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fl-jotogratJiic 

Sciences 

Corporalion 


23  W«7  MAIN  STRUT 
WIUTIifR,N.Y.  14StO 

(716)  8714501 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inttituta  for  Historical  Microreproductiont  /  institut  Canadian  de  microraproductlons  hi&toriquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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D 


D 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 

D 


D 


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Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous 

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Un  das  aymbolas  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
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method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  itre 
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Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
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de  Tangle  supArisur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  an  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagea  nAceasaire.  Lea  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthode. 


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Mr.  Maccartfs 


TWO 


DISCOURSES 

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Publick  Faft. 


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T'&e  Advice  of  Joab  to  the  Hoji  of  IfraeU  going     " 
forth  to  War y  confidered  and  urged^ 

A)5  INTWO 

DISCOURSES 

Delivered  at  Worcejler^  April  5th,  1759,     ^ 

B  E  I  N  G     T  H  E  k,  -§L 

Pay  of  the  publick  annual  Faft,   '  ^  \ 

Appointed  by  Authority,  ^^  "&  ^ 

A  N  D    T  H  E  a>  n-.  O 


t 


Day  preceeding  the  General  Mufte^  .^  ^ 


©  «^i 


OFTHE  ^"^^3 

Militia  throughout  the  Province,   ?   %  coO 

FORTH© 

Inlifting  Soldiers  '^ 

F  o  R    T  H  E 

Intended  Expedition  againft  CANADA. 

By  Thaddetis  Maccarty^  A-  M. 

Faftor  of  the  Church  there. 


II.  Chron.  14.  8,  11. — And  A  fa  bad  an  Armf  9/  Men  thai  iar» 
Targets  and  SpearSf  cut  of  JuJah  three  hundred  Thou/and,  and  out  of 
Bettjamin,  that  hare  Shields  and  dreuo  Bonus,  two  hundred  and  fourftort 
Thoufand}  All  thefe  were  mighty  Men  ofFalour.  And  J^a  er ted  unto  th$ 
Lord  his  God,  and  /aid.  Lord  it  is  Nothing  with  Thee  to  help,  whether 
with  many,  or  nvith  them  that  have  no  Power  :-r-help  us  O  Lord  our  God; 
for  nue  rtfi  on  Thee,  and  in  thy  Name  lue  go  againfi  this  Multitude.-^ 

Pfalm  108.  13.  Through  Qod  we  Jhall  do  valiantljtj^  for  He  it  h 
that  Jhall  tread  down  our  Enemies. 

^\C        ^>^         BOSTON: 
f^WH^hy  Ij^o^As  and  John  Flee 


,'»■.■!  -  il  ;      V 


y ): 


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Gffic 
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1  l^y^ 


^be  Advice  of  Joab  to  the  Kofi  of  Ifrael,  going 
forth  to  Wary  confidered  and  urged.'^ 


1 1 


#«««#«««#i«»««^'««^«»»«« 


II.  SAMUEL   loChap.  i2  Verfe. 

BE  of  good  Courage^  and  Ut  us  play  the  Men  for  our 
PeopU  and  for  the  Cities  of  our  God  \  and  the  Lord 
do  that  which  feemeth  him  good. 


THIS  Chapter  gives  us  an  Account  of  a  War 
which  Divid  had  with  the  Amn.onites  and  the 
Syrians  who  were  in  Alliance  with  them. — The 

Occafion  was  this Nahafli  the  King  of  Ammon,  who 

had  (hewed  Kindnefs  to  David,  died,  —  David,  defirous 
of  keeping  up  a  friendly  Correfpondence  wiih  his  Son 
Hanun,  who  facceeded  him  in  the  Kingdom,  in  a  gene- 
rous and  refpedtful  manner,  fenc  his  Servants,  feme  of 
his  prime  Minifters  it  is  like  they  were,  to  condole  with 
him  and  comfort  him  upon  the  Death  of  his  Father  \ 
and  perhaps  to  tender  him  his  good  Services,  or  to  enter 
into  or  renew  his  Alliance  with  him.  But  when  the 
Ambafladors  came,  who  (hould  have  been  received  and 
treated  with  a  Refpedt  and  Dignity  becoming  their  high 
Office  }  thro*  the  Infinuation  of  the  Princes  of  the  Children 
of  /imtnon^  as  they  are  called  in  the  3d  Verfe,  as  tho* 
I  they  came  upon  a  bad  Pefign,  to  fearch  the  City  and  to 


&       The  Advice  ofjoab  to  tbeHoJi  oflfrael 


f 


I. 


fpy  ic  out,  that  fo  they  might  overthrow  it,  they  were, 
I  (ay,  upon  this  Infinuation,  treated  with  moft  (hameful 
Indignity,  as  you  may  fee  in  the  4th  Verfe  —  Wherefore 
Hanun  took  David's  Servants^  and  Jhaved  off  the  one  half 
cf  their  Beards,  and  cut  off  their  Garments  in  the  Middle^ 
even  to  their  Buttocks^  and  fent  them  away. 


cc 


They  themfelves  (fays  one)  were  Men  of  Honour, 
and  much  more  fo,  as  they  reprefented  the  Prince  that 
**  fent  them  •,  they  and  their  Reputation  were  under  the 
fpecial  Protection  of  the  Laws  of  Nations*,  they  put 
a  Confidence  in  the  Ammonites  and  came  among  them 
unarm'd,  yet  Hanun  ufed  them  like  Rogues  and 
Vagabonds  and  worfe  — • 


cc 


<l 


«c 


iC 


This  (hameful  Treatment  of  David's  AmbalTadors,  was 

an  open  Defiance  of  him  and  a  Challenge  to  War. • 

Confcious  how  vilely  they  had  affronted  him,  and  how 
daringly  they  had  challenged  him  to  War,  without  any 
more  ado,  the  Ammonites  are  preparing  to  enter  the  Lids 
with  him,  v.  6  —  And  when  the  Children  of  Ammon  faw 
that  they  ftank  before  David,  the  Children  of  Ammon  fent 
and  hired  the  Syrians  of  Beth^rehoh,  and  the  Syrians  of  Zoba, 
twenty  thoufand  Footmen,  and  of  King  Maacah,  a  thoufand 
Men,  and  of  Ifh-tob^  twelve  thoufand  Men,  •'  The  Am- 
**  monites  gave  the  Affront  firft,  and  they  were  the  firft 
•*  that  raifed  Forces  to  juftify  it." — Had  they,  fenfible  of 
their  Error,  been  difpofed  to  make  Satisfaction  to  David 
in  an  honourable  Way,  doubtlefs  he  would  have  accepted 
ir,  and  fo  the  Sword  had  remained  in  its  Scabbard.  But 
when  they  are  defperately  refolvcd  to  ftand  by  what  they 
had  done,  by  raifmg  their  Forces  for  War,  no  wonder 
that  it  ftiis  up  the  Refentment  of  David,  and  puts  him 
upon  raifing  his  Forces  too  to  encounter  with  them. — The 
Ammonites  might  have  eafily  forefeen,  how  that  the  abufd 
of  the  Ambaflfadors  would  (tir  up  the  Rtfentment  of  their 
King,  whom,  thqy  ptrfooaited  ij  and  hQW  alfo  that  they 

wer« 


>i 


going  forth  to  War  confidered  and  urged. 


leful 

tford 

half 

\ddU. 


nour, 
e  that 
IX  the 

y  pu« 

;  them 
:s  and 


rs,  vaa 

id  how 
Qut  any 
le  Lifts 
ton/aw 
non  fent 
of  Zoba, 
tboufand 
\Q  Am- 
ihe  firft 
nfibleof 
0  David 
accepted 
rd.    Bat 
vhat  ihcy 
)  wonder 
puts  bitn 
m. — The 

the  abufd 
nt  of  their 

that  they 
vuere 


were  unable  of  theHnfelves  to  cope  with  him,  fliould  be 
raife  his  whole  Force  and  conne  out  to  War  againft  them» 
And  indeed  they  were  Tenfible  of  the  inequality  on  their 
Side,  for  they  were  obliged  to  hire  Forces  from  other 
Nations  into  their  Service,  as  in  the  6th  v. — 

When  David  heard  how  that  the  King  of  Ammon  had 
raifed  his  Forces  to  attack  him,  he  at  once  raifed  his  to 
fjpeak  with  him  in  the  Gate,  v.  7. Joab  was  the  Ge- 
neral of  David's  Army  upon  this  Expedition.  And  by 
the  account  we  have  of  him  in  the  following  Verfes,  it 
appears  that  he  was  a  wife,  a  prudent,  a  courageous  and  a 
pious  General ;  Qualifications  which  are  very  necefiary  •!! 
every  General,  as  much  under  God  depends  upon  them» 
as  to  the  Iflue  and  Event  of  Campaigns  i  Qualifications, 
which  at  (his  Day  are  in  a  very  eminent,  diftinguilhing 
Manner  to  be  found  in  the  illustrious  King  of 
Prussia.  And  thefe  are  Qualifications  which  are  alfo 
neceifary,  not  only  in  Generals,  but  in  Officers  under  them» 
efpecially  in  thofe  of  the  principal  Rank. 

Such  was  the  Skill,  ConduA  and  Valour  of  the  General 
of  David's  Forces,  that  he  entirely  routed  the  Enemy  and 
gained  a  compleat  Vi6tory  over  them,  as  the  following 
Part  of  the  Chapter  before  us  gives  us  the  Account.— 

The  Words  I  at  firft  read  to  you,  as  a  proper  Theme 
of  Difcourfe  upon  this  Occafion,  prefent  us  with  the  ani« 
mating,  manly,  religious  Addrefs,  that  Joab  made  to  the 
Hods  of  Ifrael  *  now  miuftered  for  the  Battle  with  the 

Ammonites 

*  It  looks,  taking  the  Words  with  what  imoiedtately  preceeds,  as 
tho'  this  Addrefs  was  ihade  only  to  Abi(hai.-*^But  if  it  was  moredire^}/ 
'  made  to  him,  yet  it  may  be,  that  it  was  in  the  Audience  of  the  Troops 
that  he  thus  addrefs'd  him ;  that  it  was  in  Coofideration  of  the  high 
Pofthewas  in,  that  when  he  would  animate  them,  he  direfled  his 
Speech  to  him,  as  having  a  principal  Command  in  the  prefent  Expe- 
dition. Accordingly  Expofitors  confider  this  Addrefs  as  made  not 
only  to  him,  but  to  all  the  Forces.  Agraeabl;r  in  this  Latitude  I  have 
confidered  it  in  thefc  Difcourfcs. 


^^ 


^: 


mtmmtt 


I 


t       T&e  jidvice  ofjoab  to  the  Hofi  of  tfrad 

AmmonUes  and  thctir  Confederates—  Bt  ofgMd  Cottrage^ 
ice.  And  no  Doubt,  it  codk  good  hold  of  rhem,  and 
was  happily  influential  upon  their  Conduct  in  the  im- 
portant Affair  they  were  engaging  in. 1  (hall  read  to 

you  from  the  8th  Verfe — And  the  Children  ofAmrtmeantt 
outy  and  put  the  Battle  in  Aray  at  the  entring  in  of  the 
Cate  i  and  the  Syrians  of  Zoba^  and  of  Rehoby  and  Jfl^toh^ 
and  Maacaht  were  hy  them/elves  in  the  Field,  Pf^hen  Joah 
fiw  that  the  Front  of  the  Battle  was  againfi  him  before  and 
behindy  be  cbofe  of  all  the  choice  Men  of  IfraeU  and  put  them 
in  aray  againft  the  Syrians,  And  the  reft  of  the  People  be 
delivered  into  the  Hands  of  Abifhai  bis  Brother ^  that  be  might 
put  them  in  aray  againft  the  Children  of  Ammon,  And  he 
faid,  if  the  Syrians  be  too  ftrongjor  me^  then  thoufialt  help 
me ;  hit  if  the  Children  of  Ammon  be  tooftrongfor  thee^  then 
1  will  come  and  help  thee.  Here  you  fee  his  Skill  in  the 
Difpofition  of  the  Army  under  him,  and  of  the  Provifion 
he  made  againft  fuch  and  fuch  Emergencies.  —  So  ac- 
quainted was  he  with  the  Art  of  War,  as  to  plan  out  the 
Campaign  in  the  mbft  advantageous  Manner,  fo  as  that, 
humanly  fpeakiflg,  Succefs  might  be  enfured- —  But  yet 
after  all,  as  our  Text  ihows  us,  be  has  his  Eye,  as  a  nelU 
gious  General,  principally  to  God,  whofe  is  the  Battle. 
^^e  Lord  do  that  which  feemetb  him  good. 


Were  I  this  Day  preaching  before  Generals  and  prin- 
cipal OfHcers,  I  fhould  doubtlefs  take  Occafion  to  fet  be> 
fore  them  Joab,  as  an  Example  of  .Military  Skill  and 
ConduA  s  to  fet  before  them  his  Courage  and  Piety,  and 

propoie  this  Example  to  their  Imitation. Bat  I  have 

not  to  do  with  Generals  and  principal  Officers,  but  with 
private  Centinels — And  as  there  are  fome  of  you  of  thi^ 
Rank,  who  will  be  called  to  go  forth  into  the  intended 
Expedition  againft  Canada,  fo  the  Words  of  my  Text 
will  furnifh  us  with  Matter  proper  for  yott  io  your  Station: 
and  Capacity.—— 

Tha 


tior 
porj 
and! 
this! 


^^^ 

and 

\  im- 
ad  CO 

Iff  the 

Joah 
re  and 
t  them 
ople  be 

m^bi 
And  be 
lit  belp 
V,  then 

in  the 
ovifion 
So  ac- 
out  the 
IS  that, 
But  yet 
i  a  reli" 

Battle. 


id  prin- 
[)  fet  be- 
kill  and 
cty,  and 
t  I  have 
but  with 
J  of  thi^ 
intended 
ny  Text 
irStfttioit: 

Tha 


going  forth  to  War  confidered  and  urged.      ^  J 

The  Speech  which  this  excellent  General  of  King  Da- 
vid's made  to  the  Hoft  of  Ifrael,  may  very  properly  be 
made  to  you,  who  (hall  go  forth  in  this  great  but  very 
neceflary  Expedition—^^  of  good  Courage^  &c. 

Obfervable  is  the  Manner  of  this  Addrefs  which  Joab 
made  to  thefe  Hofts ;  Be  tf  good  Courage^  and  let  Us  play 
the  Men  &c. — You  fee  he  confiders  himfelf  as  interefted  in 
the  Affair— Let  Us  play  the  Men. — He  did  not  content 
himfelf  with  his  honourable  Title  as  General— nor  was  it 
for  the  fordid  Principle  of  Gain,  that  he  undertook  the 
Office  I  not  caring  how  the  Expedition  turned  out,  fo  that 
he  might  make  a  Purfe  of  his  Commiffion. — It  is  a  Pity 
that  ever  there  fhould  be  any  Officers  that  fhould  be  in- 
fluenced from  no  higher  or  worthier  Motives,  than  mere- 
ly Honour  or  Profit ;  that,  when  their  Country  and  <;11 
its  dear  and  important  Interefts  lie  bleeding  and  gafpingt 
and  the  moft  vigorous  Meafures  are  necellary  to  i  revent 
its  Death  i>nd  reft  ere  it  to  Health  and  Vigour,  any 
that  wear  Com milfions  and  fill  Pofls  of  Importance,  fhould 
be  unafFedttd  as  to  the  publick  Good,  ard  care  little  or 
nothing  as  to  the  IfTue  and  Event  of  a  Campaign ;  that 
they  fhould  have  nothing  further  in  View  than  to  aggran- 
dize themfelves  and  receive  the  Pay  of  their  Country. — > 
Their  King  and  their  Country,  and  I  may  add,  their  God 
too,  expedt  other  Things— that  they  fill  their  Pofls  with 
Honour,  and  that  they  difcharge  iheir  important  TruAs 

with  all  Fidelity. And  if  they  do  fo,  they  take  the 

readiefl  Courfe  to  obtain  Honour  amongfl  Men,  to  be 
accepted  and  applauded  by  the  Multitude  of  their  Brethren, 
and  which  is  a  Confideration  of  greater  Importance  flill> 
CO  be  accepted  of  God.  ,  ..jj    '       . 

No  doubt  David  was  well  fatisfied  as  to  the  Qualifica- 
tions of  Joab  for  the  General  of  his  Forces  upon  this  im- 
portant Occafion,  and  therefore  appointed  him  to  this  high 
and  important  Office.  Nor  was  he  at  all  deceived  as  to 
this  Matter.  For  in  what  a  noble,  gencioas  and  worthy 
'U       .  '         Jl  ■  Manner 


njiitti 


mmm^^^mmrn 


^MB^»^ 


Bl 


m 


I 


to       jrt^  Advice  ofjoab  to  the  Hoji  oftfraeh 

Manner  does  he  fpeak  to  the  Hoft  of  Ifrael,  now'  (^ey 
are  going  forth  againft  the  Enen^y  t  'Be  of  ^ooi  Courage^ 
and  let  us  play  the  Men^  &c.  He  deflgned  pefh^^ps  to 
head  the  Army  himfclf  when  he  came  to  the  Engage- 
;nent  w^h  the  Enemy,  at  lead  his  own  Divifion  of  it  (for 
Y^^  BrQther  Abifhai  had  one  Pivifion)  pr  if  it  was  no( 
Prv4?pce  to  expoie  himfelf  in  the  He^it  of  EMttle,  ai 
his  F»jl  might  occafioii  great  CgnfuHon  in  the  Army  and 
endanger  a  Defeat ;  yet  doubtlef$  he  would  be  fo  polled, 
as  CO  idire^  all  their  Motions  and  Attacks,  to  enliven  and 
urge  them  on,  fo  as  that  upon  (he  whole  the  Enemy 
would  be  routed  and  vanquiihed.-"—    j   ,  i  . 

I-iowevcr  this  may  be,  yet  It  U  plain,  he  looked  upon 
himfeU  as  interefted  in  the  prcfent  AiFair,  and  is  deter- 
mined to  exert  himfelf  fo  as  to  bring  it, to  a  happy  Iflue 

— Let  us  play  the  Men. It  is  plain  that  Joab  by  thi? 

Speech  he  made  to  them,  did  rot  look  upon  the  Army 
under  him  as  a  parcel  of  Slaves — When  he  called  upon 
them  to  do  their  Duty  in  the  prefent  Expedition,  he 
did  not  come  upon  them  in  a  rough,  domineering,  im- 
perious Manner,  fwearing  at  them,  and  curling  and  dam* 
nin^  them,  and  fn^iting  them — But  he  comes  to  them  as 
Men — treats  them  with  Civility  and  Decency. — He  had 
a  Right  indeed  to  form  the  Plan  of  Operation,  as  we  find 
he  did  with  his  Brother — He  had  a  Right  to  command 
his  Soldiers  and  to  direct  them  in  the  Expedition  *,  and 
they  had  no  Right  to  oppofe  his  Meafures — He  muft  be 
prefumed  to  be  the  beft  Judge  of  what  was  fit  and  pro- 
per, and  then  he  had  a  Power  vefted  in  him  by  his  King. 
They  had  no  Right  to  difpute  his  Authority,  but  it  was 
tlieir  Duty  to  fubmit  to  him,  as  it  is  of  all  Soldiers  to 
their  principal  Officers.  For  what  would  be  the  Confc^ 
quence  ?  What  dreadful  Confufion  would  enfue,  if  every 
one  was  to  fee  up  for  himfelf  to  do  what  was  right  in 
his  own  Eyes,  without  any  to  o^mroul  him  ? 

But 


diey 


pS  CO 

gage- 
t(for 
8  not 
k,  ai 
y  md 
oiled, 
n  and 


3  upon 

deter- 
y  iffue 
by  thi? 

Army 
j  upon 
ion,  he 
ig,  im- 
id  dirn* 
them  a} 
He  had 
we  find 
)minand 
)n  •»  and 
muft  be 
md  pro- 
lis  King. 
It  it  was 
]cjier9  to 
le  Confe- 

if  every 

right  in 

But 


^oing  forth  to  JVaVt  conftdtred  and  urged. 


It 


% 


But  then,  tho*  he  wa»  fenfible  of  the  Power  he  wai 
veiled  with,  and  of  the  fubjedion  wh'fch  the  Soldiers  in 
the  Army  owed  hioi  \  yet  he  is  diijpofed  to  treat  them  in 
9  kind,  civil,  and  hurhaqe  Manner. *-And  there  is  doubt*- 
lefs  a  great  Propriety  in  this. — For  what  are  the  braveft 
Generals  and  Commanders  without  their  Soldiers?  Tis 
by  their  A^ivity  that  fixploiis  arjg  performed.  *Tis  by 
their  rnftrumentality,  that  they  obtain  tiie  Honours  ana 
the  Rewards  of  Conquerors.  Nothing  then  can  be  more 
reafonable  and  proper  than  that  they  fhould  be  treated  by 
their  Superiors  with  Kindnefs  and  Humanity  in  every 
Shape.  And  doubtlefs  were  they  always  to  be  fo,  they 
would  be  more  likely  to  honour  and  refpe£t  their  Supe«- 
riors,  to  be  more  tradable  and  obedient  to  them — hereby 
they  would  b;:  more  likely  to  be  encouraged  in  their  Du* 
ty,  and  to  do  it  to  good  Purpofe.  .    ^: 

Whatever  Exceptions  there  may  be  of  fume  of  a  baHr, 
fordid,  ungenerous  turn  of  Mind,  yet  in  all  Societies,  whe- 
ther Civil  or  Military,  it  is  very  generally  the  Cafe,  thai; 
where  Superiors  rule  with  Moderation  and  Kindnelt, 
they  are  obeyed  with  Freedom  and  Chearfulnefs.  and  no 
Difficulties  tho*t  too  much  to  encounter  to  teflify  their 
Love  and  Refpe^t  to  them,  and  to  do  them  Honour. — 

But  T  will  no  further  enlarge  upon  thefe  Matters,  but 
proceed  to  the  Confideration  of  this  excellent  Speech  which 
Joab  made  to  the  Hoft  of  Ifrael :  Us  of  good  Courage^  &c. 

And  in  the  firft  Place,       •,,  r.    . 

What  J  3ab  here  fays,  fuppofes  the  LawFulnefs  and  Ne« 
cefiity  of  uking  up  Arms,  or  engaging  in  an  Expedition, 

iQinetimes  at  leaft. — - 

From  the  Account  we  have  in  the  Chapter  before  us, 
\Ye  fin  J  King  Divi4  mullering  his  Forces  to  to  forth  to 

6  3  Wa? 


m^ 


m 
mmmm 


■mmm 


wmmm 


n 


■f 


m 


I 


r, 


12         ^he  Advice  ofjoab  to  theHoft  of  If  roe  I 

War  againft  the  Ammonites.  And  the  Speech  which  his 
General  made  to  them  in  our  Text,  fuppofes  that  they 
might  lawfuHy  go  forth. — Twas  as  much  as  if  he  had 
faid — Now  ye  are  called  to  go  forth  to  War,  behave  like 
Warriors,  if  you  would  accomplifh  the  End  defigned, 
viz.  the  fubduing  and  vanquifhing  the  Ammonites  and 
their  Allies— .9^  of  good  Courage  And  Ut  us  play  iba  Men, 

We  have  taken  Notice  how  David  was  infulted  and 
boldly  defied  by  the  Ammonites  in  the  Treatment  of  his 
AmbafTadors  *,  and  how  that  thereupon  they  muflered 
their  Forces  to  come  out  againft  him  to  invade  his 
Kingdom  and  if  pcffible  to  overthrow  it.  And  was  this 
now  patiently  to  bt  barn  ?  And  no  Meafjres  ufed  in 
order  to  prevent  all  this  Mifchief  defigned  againft  him  ? 
Was  he  not  obliged  by  all  the  Laws  of  Reafon,  yea 
and  of  Religion  too,  to  endeavour  to  f^ve  himfcU  ^nd 
his  People  from  the  threatned  Ruin  ? 

The  Ammonites,  it  is  plain,  were  the  Aggreffbrs  in 
this  War— Wirhout  any  Provocation  was  David  infulted 
and  defied  by  them  and  threatned  with  an  Invafion.— 
They  were  therefore  very  culpable,  and  juftly  rendered 
themfelves  obnoxious  to  David's  Refentment— And  Da- 
vid could  not  confiftent  with  the  Principles  of  Honour, 
Reafon  or  Self- Prefer vation  but  unll^each  the  Sword  and 
go  forth  againft  them.  \  , 

The  Sword  is  not  to  be  dr^wn  at  Random — put  cf 
Caprice  and  Humour,  to  gratify  Men's  Ambition,  to  raife 
themfelves  to  Grandeur,  to  be  celebrated  for  their  Ex- 
ploits and  to  build  themfelves  up  upon  the  Ruins  of  their 
Fellow  Creatures,  who  by  the  alldifpofing  Providence  oF 
God,  have  an  abfolute  Right  not  only  to  their  Lives 
but  to  their  various  Properties  and  Enjoyments. — Put 
yet  the  Sword  has  been  often  drawn  and  all  the  Horrors  of 
War  hav5  been  felt  from  fuch  bafc  and  unworthy  and  un- 

iuftifiablQ 


h  his 
they 
had 
!like 
gned« 
I  anj 
Men, 

I  and 
of  his 
flered 
]e  his 
as  this 
fed  in 
him  ? 
n,  yea 
If  ^nd 


(Tors  in 
finfulted 

ifion.— - 
endtfred 
ind  Da- 
-lonqur, 
ord  and 

-put  cf 
,  to  raife 
leir  px- 
}  of  their 
idencc  oF 
ir  Lives 
its.~Put 
lorrors  of 
'  and  un- 
ludifiabk 


going  forth  to  War  conftdered  and  urged.       i  ^ 

jaftifiable  Motives  as  thefe— The  unbounded  Lufl;  after 
Power  and  Dominion — The  infatiable  Third  after  Fame, 
and  the  Avarice  of  Princes,  has  from  Age  to  Age, 
involved  Kingdoms  and  Nations  in  the  moft  diftrefTuig 
Wars,  in  which  Thoufands  and  Millions  of  Mankind, 
quietly  enjoying  what  the  God  of  Nature  has  put  them 
in  PoiTiTion  of,  have  fallen  a  Sacrifice,  or  been  reduced  to 

Beggary  and  Slavery. And  aliho*   fuch  have   often 

accomplifhed  their  Ends  and  gain*d  their  Point,  and  their 
martial  Atchievements  have  been  highly  celebrated  by 
iervile  Flatterers,  and  handed  down  to  fucceeding  Gene- 
rations, yet  it  is  but  a  falfe  Grandeur  after  all  that  they 
have  attain'd  to. — To  over- run  and  depopulate  Kingdoms, 
to  diftrefs  and  ruin  Mankind— to  butcher  them  by  Thou- 
lands  and  Millions,  and  all  this  to  be  celebrated  as  great 
and  glorious,  as  heroick  and  mighty  Conquerors  I  Call 
you  this  true  Glory  ?  Verily,  it  is  to  the  lading  Shame 
and  Reproach  of  Princes.  What  are  fuch,  but  like  th& 
J  Jons  and  Tigers,  tearing  and  devouring  all  before  them  ? 
And  yet  even  thefe  Beafts  of  Prey  are  not  wont  to  fall 
upon  thofe  of  their  own  Species ;  but  to  maintain  a  Sort 
of  Friendlhip  and  good  Agreement  amongft  themfelves — 
But  Men,  from  whom  other  and  better  Things  may  be 
expelled,  conlidering  their  Elevation  above  the  brutal 
World,  can  bite  and  devour  one  another,  and  make 
Thoufands  miferable  to  gratify  their  Ambition  and 
Avarice. — What  a  Shame  and  Reproach  is  this  to  human 
Nature  I  and  how  wretchedly  funk  and  degenerated  is  it ! 

The  Aggreflbrs  in  every  War  are  mod  certainly 
culpable.  There  can  be  no  Difpute  of  this.  There's  no 
Argument  that  can  be  fetched  from  Reafon  or  Revelation 
that  can  juftify  Princes  in  entring  into  a  Quarrel  with 
thfir  Neighbours,  invading  their  Dominions,  molefting 
their  Subjefts   in    their  PoffelTions,    their   Trade,    their 

Religion,  captivating  and  killing  them It  is  a  vile 

ffnd  wicked  Thing  in  them,  if  at  any  Time -they  take 


wm 
^ 


F 
1 

]■!  1 


'ii;i 


il 


I 


14       7)&^  Advice  ofjoab  to  the  Hoft  of  Ifrael 

it  into  their  Heads  to  be  thus  injurious  to  them,  an^l 
commence  Ho(lilitIes  and  Outrages  upon  them. — This 
bas  often  been  the  Cafe  fince  pavid's  Time. 


tiut 


now. 


when  a  Nation  or  Land  are  thus  motefted 


and  injured  and  abufed,  what  is  to  be  done  by  them  \ 
Are  they  quietly  to  fubmit  to  chefe  Abufes  and  Inj  iries  ? 
fufier  their  Enemies  to  carry  their  Schemes  into  £xecu-< 
tion  ?  fuffer  themfelws  to  be  over-run  by  them,  to  be 
deftroyed,  or  difponc^fTed  and  enflaved  ?  Can  it  be  thought 
that  they  are  obliged  to  this  ?  Would  this  be  manly  and 
rational  \  Would  it  be  acting  like  Beings  whom  the  great 
Author  of  Nature  has  endued  with  a  Principle  of  Self- 
I'fefcrvgtion  ?  Verily,  it  can't  be  pretended, — — 

Altho*,  as  I  obferved  before,  the  Sword  is  not  to  be  drawq 
at  Random,  yet  when  the  State  of  Affairs  is,  as  i  have 
juft  faid,  moft  certainly  it  may  and  ought  to  b:  drawn. 

/  ■''•,.•■••• 

tSlavid  thought  fo  when  the  Ammonites  commenced 

Hoftilities  againft    him,  and   I    might    mention    other 

Scripture  InSances,  were  ic  oecefTary—     ^  .,-      -,  ,  . 

An  injured  and  opprefTed  People,  whofe  D.ftruflion 
and  Overthrow  is  aimed  at  by  unreafonable  Men, 
ought  to  Hand  upon  their  Defence,  to  maintain  their 
Ground,  and  not  tamely  fubmir  to  their  Incurfions  and 
Violences. — The  inferior  Creatures,  feme  of  the  weakeft 
of  them  will  (land  upon  their  Defence  when  affaulted, 
fuch  is  the  Indindt  implanted  in  them  by  the  God  of  Na« 
ture.  And  the  Principle  of  Self- prefer vation  is  implant- 
ed in  the  Breads  of  human  Beings,  and  agreeable  to  the 
Defign  of  the  Author  of  it,  ought  to  exert  itfelf,  efpcially 
in  the  Cafe  we  are  confiderirg.  Unreafonable  Enemies 
are  vigorouHy  to  be  oppofed  and  refifted  in  their  Deigns 
and  Attempts,  and  they  ought  earneftly  to  endeavour  to 
keep  Pcfltflion  of  ih?ir  dc^r  ^nd  facred  Things,  and  to 

Jr^ftrat? 


going  forth  to  War  eonfidered  and  urged ^      i  j 

fruftrate  the  deep  laid  Schemes  and  Plots  of  their  Enemies^ 
who  are  reftlefe  »nd  bufy  to  deprive  them  of  'cm. 

'  Bat  then  is  this  9II  that  is  to  be  done  ?  Are  thejr  to 
wait  for  the  approach  of  the  Enemy  and  till  they  ftrike 
the  Blow  ?  Thi^  furely  would  be  ill  Policy.  What  vaft 
Advantage  would  an  Eneniy  gain,  were  they  fuffer^ 
without  any  MoK  ftation,  to  invade  a  Country  and  to  be* 
gin  their  Hollilities^  Would  not  thi)  go  far  to  cnfurc 
them  the  Conqueft?  .  ...  ^.  - 

'        i  1  '  '  .       •       .K  !.  r.<    >  .       '■     .     '\  :'■'        ■■  . 

So  that  in  order  to  fruftrate  the  t)erign9  of  Enemies  aiui 
to  prevent  their  doing  Mifchief»  it  is  fometinies  abrolute"* 
ly  necefTary,  that  Forces  and  Armies  be  raifed  to  march 
forth  againft  them,  to  harrafs  and  perplex  them,  to  curb 
tnd  restrain  them,  and  fo  to  prevent  them  from  perform- 
ing their  defigned  Enterprizes.  It  may  very  often  be 
comparatively  eafy  to  prevent  Evils^  but  very  hard  to  re- 
medy them.  And  this  Maxim  is  doubtlefs  as  emphatically 
true  in  the  prefent  Cafe  as  in  any  other  that  can  be  nan^ed* 

When  the  Well  being  and  even  the  Being  of  a  Coun* 
try  is  at  Stake,  furely  none  can  be  at  a  lofs  whether  it  is 
not  proper  and  expedient  to  endeavour  to  prevent  iti 
Ruin.  And  an't  the  Men  who  are  plotting  and  con- 
triving this,  and  exerting  themfelves  to  effedt  it,  an't  they» 
I  fay,  to  bt  reftrained,  if  poflTible?  And  in  order  tothis» 
ought  not  Forcsa  and  Armies  to  march  out  againft  them 
and  invade  their  Territories^  and  if  not  to  put  them  to 
the  Swor^^  vet,  if  pofTible,  to  wreft  the  Sword  out  of 
their  Ha*  lit  fo  they  may  be  obliged  to  ad  a  different 
Part  from  what  they  have  done  ?  In  ihort»  to  reduce 
them  to  Reafon  and  a  better  Condufb,  or  totally  to  de- 
flroy  them  ?  Surely  this  Cafe  will  not  admit  of  any 
Difpare.— I  might  go  on  further  to  illuflrate  it,  were  it 
necefHry,  but  what  has  been  faid  may  fuiBce  here. 

I  now 


^Ifg.j^i'HSWWWW'W''-'  ■''WWWrllWWN*-,^-.  ■ 


Irfi 


r 


1 

i 


1 6         IT^^  ^^wr^  ofjoab  to  the  Hoft  of  Jfrael 
;.         I  now  proceed,      .^rfv^  ' 

Secondly,  To  confider  the  Advice  itfclf  which  Joab 
gave  to  the  Hoft  of  Ifrael,  now  they  were  going  forth 
10  War.    Be  of  good  Courage^  and  let  us  play  the  Men, 

He  himfelf  was  doubtlefs  a  Man  of  true  Courage  and 
Fortitude.  And  as  he  looked  upon  it  to  be  a  very 
neceflary  Qualification  in  a  Soldier,  fo  he  is  defirous  of 
lieartning  and  animating  his  Forces.  He  would  have 
them  courageous,  and  manifeil  that  they  were  fo  when 
they  come  to  encounter  with  the  Enemy,  by  their  bold 
and  gallant  Behaviour.  Be  of  good  Courage  and  let  us 
play  the  Men.  Let  us  fhew  that  we  are  Men  of  Forti- 
tude and  Bravery,  , 

The  moft  numerous  Army,  and  compofed  of  Men  of 
a  gigantick  Stature,  will  bring  little  to  pafs  in  the  Want 
of  true  Courage  and  Fortitude — I  fay  true  Courage. — 
**  For  true  Courage  is  a  very  difFerfnt  Thing  from  a 
*'  FJufli  of  animal  Spirits  or  a  Firmnefs  of  Fibres  in  the 
■*  Heart  or  Brain.    *Tis  a  moral  Virtue.     It  muft  have 
**  its  Foundation  in  Reafon,  yea,  in  Religion  which  is 
*'  the  beft  Reafon,  or  it  fubfides  into  Stupidity  or  foams 
••  up  in  Phrenfy."— It  is  written  in  the  Prophet  Daniel  § 
Sibat  the  People  ihat  know  their  God,  that  know  him  in 
a  praAical  Manner,  fhall  he  ftrong  and  do  Exploits,    Shall 
be  infpired   with  Courage  and    play  the  Men.     Ic  is 
written  alfo,   that  the  Righteous  are  hold  as  a  Lion,  f 
Their  Faith  in  God,  in  his  Being,  Perfedtions,  Providence 
and  Promifes ;  their  Truft  in  Him,  and  reverential  Re* 
gards  to  Him,  makes  them  magnanimous  and  intrepid, 
and  urges  them  on  to  the  hardieft  Enterprifes. — What  a 
noble  Account  does  the  Apoftle  to  the  Hebrews  *  give 
us  of  fome  of  the  Old  Tettamenc  Saints  and  Prophets ; 

of 


§  Chap    u.  32.      t  Proy.  28.  1.     *  Chap.  11.  32.  &c. 


going  forth  to  War  confidered  and  urged.       17 

of  their  Faith,  of  their  Valour  aiid  of  their  Succefs  ?  OF 
Gideon  and  Barak  and  others  ?  Who  tbre^  Faith  fubauei 
Kiffgdoms. —  Out  of  fVeaknefs  were  made  flrofig,  waxed 
valiant  in  Fight ^  turned  to  Flight  the  Armies  of  the  Aliens  ? 
Pofftfs'd  of  a  Principle  ot  Religion,  how  valiant  and 
viAorious  were  they  ? —  There  was  no  Duty  but  they 
would  engage  in,  no  Difficulty  but  what  they  would 
furniount.  We  have  a  glorious  Inftance  of  Courage  and 
Fortitude  in  King  David,  wh^en  but  a  Youth  and  a 
Strippling,  in  his  encountering  the  Giant  of  Gath,  and 
his  Courage  hid  its  Foundation  in  Rtligion.  'Twasthis 
that  infpirited  him,  notwithftandmg  his  fnequality  as  to 
Stature  and  warlike  Weapons.  Only  with  a  Sling  and 
a  few  Pebbles  he  goes  out  againft  him.  And  in  what  a 
gallant  and  heroick  Manner  docs  he  addrels  him,  and  in 
the  Spirit  of  Religion  too  ?  ^hou  comefi  to  me  with  a  Sword 
and  a  Spear  and  a  Shield ;  but  1  come  to  thee  in  the  Name  of 
the  Lord  of  Hofts^  the  God  of  the  Armies  of  Ifrady  whom 
thou  haft  defied  *  And  we  may  fee  his  glorious  Courage 
and  Fortitude  and  his  Religion  as  the  Spring  of  it  in 
the  27th  Pfalm  at  the  Beginning. 

So  that  when  Soldiers  go  forth  upon  an  Expedition,  it 
is  not  only  neceflary,  that  they  hit  well  equipt  wiih  mili- 
tary Weapons,  and  that  they  underftand  ho»v  to  ufe  them  ; 
it  is  not  fufficient  that  they  know  how  to  perform  ihe 
Exercifes  of  a  common  Training- Day  at  home,  but  they 
muft  be  Men  of  Courage  and  Fortitude,  if  ihey  would  be 
good  Soldiers ;  and  in  order  to  this  they  muft  t)e  Men 
of  Religion — have  fuch  a  Fairh  and  Truft  and  Reverence 
for  the  glorious  God,  as  poffefled  the  Hearts  ot  thofc  an- 
tient  Worthies,  we  juft  (pake  of.  _, ,         , 

What  a  Token  for  Good  would  it  be,  if  this  was  gene- 
rally the  Cafe  with  them  ?  But  many  there  are  that  ima- 
gine Religion  is  of  no  I-nportance  in  the  military  Life, 
(hat  it  rather  makes  Men  Cowards  than  bold  and  cou- 


!  i  .  rf  . 


rageous 


I.  Sam.  17.  45 


;|8      ne  Advice  ofjoab  to  the  lloji  oflfrael 


li 


I 


I'    r 
if 
4!     } 


« 


Mgeousr  "  That  a  M-^n  will  never  (as  one  fpeaks)  make 
"  a  gallant,  brave,  bold  Fellow  in  the  Army,  til)  he  has 
'*  thrown  off  all  Veneration  for  the  Deity,  and  all  Regard 
tor  Religion ;  that  he  will  never  dare  to  look  his  Ene- 
mies in  the  Face,  iinlefs  he  be  fo  horribly  impious  as 
**  to  fiy  in  the  Face  of  his  Maker  -,  nor  to  ftorm  a  City, 
**  or  enter  a  Breach,  till  he  Itorm  Heaven  iifelf,  with  h"S 
*'  horrid  Imprecations  and  blafphemous  Oaths.  All  they. 
•'  defire  is,  to  have  good  Guns  and  Swords  ;  a  goor^  Ge- 
•*  neral,  a  weJl  difciplin'd  Army  and  compleat  Artil'ery ; 
•'  and  then  fhew  them  their  Enemies.  They  truft  in 
*'  their  own  Bow,  their  Swords,  Guns,  B  imbs.  Cannon, 
*'  Ships  and  Horfes,  becaufe  they  are  many  :  They  truft 
**  in  their  own  Prowefs  and  Policy,  Strength  and  Con- 
**  dudt,  and  what  in  an  heathenifh  Manner,  they  call 
*^  thQ\t  good  Fortune" 

But  there  is  no  true  Courage  and  Valour  in  all  this. — 
There's  nothing  but  Ralhnefs  and  Madnefs  and  Phrenfy, 
—and  an  Army  that  is  ccmpofcd  of  this  lorr,  are  no  more 
to  be  celebrated  as  Heroes,  than  the  War-Horfc  that  rufh- 
eth  into  the  Battle,  that  foams  and  rages  and  drives  on 
thro*  Fire  and  Smoke,  and  Swords  and  Cannon,  without 
any  Thought  cr  Confidsration. 


•  j'  4 1  •  >;■ 


.)  a 


Many  great  and  notable  Exploits  have,  no  Doubt,  been 
done  where  Armies  have  had  little  or  nothing  of  Religion 
mongthem. — But  this  is  no  Argument  why  Armies  Ihould 
rot  be  religious,  and  that  Religion  is  not  the  proper 
Foundation  of  Courage,  that  Qualification  which  is  fo 
neceffary  in  order  to  their  performing  great  and  notable 
Exploits. 

If  Soldiers  would  quii  tbemfehes  like  Men  and  he  Jlrong^ 
they  moft  Jland  faft  tn  the  Faith.  In  this  Cafe  they  will 
not  be  under  a  flavifh  Fear  of  their  Enemies,  when  they 
^nter  the  Lifts  with  them  in  the  Fitld,  or  when  they 

'  *.  attack 


i 


us  as 

City, 

hhis 

ihey. 

Ge- 

ery ; 

ift  in 

nnon, 

truft 

Con- 

y  call 


->  '* 


i«' 


^ 

if- 


going  fori /j  to  War  conjidered  and  urged,        i^ 

attack  their  Forts  and  Citicfi,  however  (Irong  they  may 
be,  and  however  formidable  the  Military  Apparatus  of 
them  may  be. 

If  Soldiers  are  Men  of  Religion,  let  it  be  noted  they 
will  be  Men  of  Prayer,  nor  will  they  forget  to  pray  when 
they  are  going  to  fighr  and  aflualiy  come  to  the  Charge, 
They  cm  wreftle  wirh  God  at  the  fime  Time  that  they 
are  combuing  with  Men. —  They  cua  fhoot  up  their 
Prayers  to  God  in  the  Heavens,  while  they  are  c^if- 
charging  their  Shot  upon  the  Enemy  in  the  Field. 
They  know  that  fervent,  b.lieving  Prayer  can  do  more 
and  greater  Execution  than  Guns  or  Swords — This  en- 
gages the  Preftnceof  God  with  th-^m  "  And  if  the  Lord 
is  on  their  Side,  they  need  not  fear  the-  Faces  of  their  Ene- 
mies.— The  Lord  is  with  them  in  the  Diy  of  B:itile,  while 
thsy  are  with  him,  religioufly  ackno^vledging  him  and'de- 
pendin-jupon  him. — He  is  wiih  them  to  gjide  them  into 
thofe  Mrafures  that  are  moft  fuitable  to  annoy  the  Enemy 
and  difcomfit  th<m— to  teich  iheir  Hands  to  War  and, 
their  Fingers  to  fight — to  dire^  every  Shot  they  fend — to 
fhield  and  guard  thtm,  to  cover  their  Head$  and  fave  thetn 
from  falli  ^. 


C( 


C( 


(( 


cc 


C( 


H  ;r 


\---^ 


■Vh 


If  God  is  thus  with  them  while  they  religioufly  ac- 
knowledge him,  pray  to  him,  and  truft' in  hin,  how 
muft  this  animate  their  Spirits  and  make,  them  bold  as 
Lions?  In  this  Cafe,  they  (land  in  no  Need  of  Drums 
and  Trumpets,  of  none  of  ihofe  Arts  that  are  ufed  in  War 
to  fl'jfh  Men's  Spirits  and  urge  them  on  to  the  Fight. — . 
As  mjgh  as  Religion  is  out  of  Fafhion  in  Armies,  yet 
it  is  capable  of  the  ftrongeft  Proof  that  it  is  the  proper 
Bifis  of  true  Fortitude  •,  that  it  makes  the  beft  Soldiers, 
the  moft  valiant  Hciroes  —  I  will  juft  add  here — That. 
Courage  and  Fortitude  is  necefTary  to  Succefs  and  Vi(5i;ory, 
~r-This  indeed  is  of  the  Lord. — And  the  R-ce  is  not  al^ 
ways  to  the  fwift  nor  the  Battle  to  the  ftrong-  But  yet  is  it 
not  much  more  iike'y  thanothtrwife,  that  Qcd  will  giy^ 

Q  3  Succefs 


20        'Tbe  Advice  ofjoab  to  the  Hojl  of  Ifrael 


%■ 


Succefs  and  Viftory  to  courageous,  religious  Armies  ?  Sure- 
]v  if  we  confider  the  Matter  borh  in  a  natural  and  a  moral 
View,  fuch  Soldiers  and  fuch  Armies  bid  the  taired  to 
have  their  Expeditions  crowned  with  Succefs.  , 

No  Doubt  but  Joab's  Forces  whom  he  addreffes  in  our 
Trtct,  were  ot  gooi  Counge  and  piay'd  the  Men,  in  their 
cncoantenng  with  the  Ammonites— That  they  were,  as 
is  faid  of  the  Gadites.   Men  of  Might  and  Men  of  War  jit 
for  the  Battle^  that  could  handle  Shield  and  Buckler^  whofe 
Facii  were  like  the  Faces  of  Lyons.     And  I  may  add,  their 
3-lfarts  too,  full  of  Spirit,  Courage,  Undauntednefs  and 
Hefolution,  and  as  fwift  as  the  Roes  upon  the  Mountains,  \\ 
And  into  what  a  Panick  were  the  Ammonites  and  their 
Confederates  thrown,  beholding  their  Bravery  and  heroick 
Conduft  ?   And  how  did  they  flee  aad  fall  before  them  ? 
And  tho*  they  rallied  again,  yet  they  were  not  able  to 
ftand  before  the  mighty  and   gallant  Troops  of  David, 
but  were  overthrown  with   a  very  great  Slaughter — the 
following  Pm  of  the  Chapter  in  which  is  our  Texr,  gives 
us  the  Account.     A  like  Inftance  we  have  in  f  Ibe  Sons 
of  Reuben,  and  the  GaditeSy  and  half  the  Tribe  of  Manajf^hy 
cf  valiant  Men^  Men  able  to  bear  Buckler  and  Sword,  and 
to  fhnot  with  Bow.  and  Jkilful  in  War,  were  four  and  forty 
ihoufand,  ^c  that  went  out  to  War — And  they  made  War 
'ijjith  the  tiagarites  and  others — And  they  were  helped  againfl 
them — for  they  cried  to  God  in  the  Battle,  and  he  was  en- 
treated of  thrm,  becaufe  they  put  their  Tru/i  in  him. — There 
fell  down  many  flain,  becaufe  the  War  was  of  God.      ^  >■  \- 

Obferve,  The  War  was  of  God—not  only  did  he  per- 
mit It — but  he  infpired  thefe  Troops  with  Courage  an4 
Fortitude.  And  why  fo  ?  Why  becaufe  they  cried  to 
God  in  the  Battle.  They  were  a  religious,  praying 
Army,  and  their  Courage  and  Valour  was  well  founded. 
—So  ^Ifo  we  find  Mofes  exhorting  the  People  of  Ifrael 

'"^     :    '■'  to 


I.  Chron.  12.  8. 


f  5  Chap  18,  &c. 


;    A 


going  forth  to  JVar  confidered  and  urged.         at 

to  the  Service  of  God,  asf  a  proper  Foundation  of  C6u- 
ragft  and  ihs  Way  to  Succefs  againft  Enemies  "^  If  y& 
walk  in  my  Statutes  (fays  God  b/  him)  and  keep  my  Com" 
mandmenti  and  do  them --ye  Jhill  chafe  your  Enemies,  and 
they  Jhalt  fall  before  you  by  the  Sword —  /Ind  five  of  you 
fhall  cttafe  an  hundred^  and  an  hundred  of  you  fhM  put  ten 
Thoufand  to  flight,  and  your  Enemies  fhall  fall  before  you 
by  the  Sword.  Succefs  does  not  depend  upon  Numbers  ; 
for  whata  vaft  inequality  is  here  ?  But  if  Soldiers  were  Men 
of  Religion  and  their  Courage  founded  upon  it ;  what  migh- 
ty Atchievements  would  be  performed  ?  So  that 
upon  the  whole  here,— — 

That  Courage  that  is  necelTary  to  make  good  Soldiers 
and  fuccefsful  and  triumphant  ones,  is  a  religious  Courage. 
— Poffeffed  of  the  Fear  of  God  and  a  reverential  Regard 
to  his  glorious  Majefty^  they  are  in  Alliance  with  Hin!» 
the  God  of  Armies— and  who  then  can  (land  before  them  ? 
If  God  be  on  their  Side  to  help  them  in  fighting  their 
Battles,  who  then  can  profper  that  fight  againft  them  ? ■ 

The  fame  I  might  fay  with  refpeft  to  fpiritual  Eit6* 
mies — who  of  them  can  harm  us  if  God  b^  for  us  ?  fn 
this  Gafe  we  (hall  come  off  Conquerors,  and  more  than 
Conquerors  over  them  all. But  without  enlarging  up- 
on this  Point,  I  clofe  the  prefent  Difcourfe  with  the  Ad- 
drefs  of  Mofes  to  the  People  of  Ifrael,  pertinent  to  the 
Subjedb  I  have  been  upon— §  fVhen  thou  goefi  cut  to  Battle 
again(i  thine  Enemies^  and  fetft  Horfes  and  Chariots  and 
a  People  more  than  thou^  be  not  afraid  of  them^  for  the  Lord 
thy  God  is  with  thee. — And  when  ye  fhall  come  nigh  unto  the 
Battle,  the  Pfiefl  fhall  approach  and  fpeak  unto  the  People, 
—Tou  approach  this  Day  unto  Battle  againfl  your  Enemies^ 
let  not  your  Hearts  faint,  fear  not  and  do  not  tremble^ 
neither  be  ye  terrified  becaufe  of  them.  For  the  Lord  your 
God  is  he  that  goeth  with  you,  to  fight  for  you  againji  your 
Enemies.,  and  to  fave  you. 


*  Levit.  26.  3.  7.  8. 


§  Deut.  20.  I — 5. 


THE 


** 


^e  Advice  ofjoab  to  the  Hojl  of  Ifrcel 


m 


i 


I  t/BU  >^m   a^Vt  tnr»  *^w  t^r*  t^rt  t^V>   •''wW  t^v   '^c    .^n*   »nt\»    .^t   t/^  KkJM 
I  KrL/»  *^J»  '^^*  "W*     iiy*  '^U*   "J^   '\v*   "Vfl^  %&'■   ^^^  ^^*    ^fw»   (u^    K^«  yr^V 


T    H    E     .<\  •.. 

Second  Difcourfe. 


■K     i     *■ 


-■•' '  '\ 


^^'^^^^if^4p4p^^4pif0ifiF4f'if^4?if'if4pif4f'lp^ 


■ 


II  ! 


II.  SAMUEL    lo.  12. ...    - 


f'r 


.  M    i. 


r«I"i  » 


Bi  of  good  Courage,  and  let  us  play  the  Men  for  our 
People^  and  for  the  Cities  of  our  God  j  and  the  Lord  do  that 
lobtcb  feemetb  him  good,  '  '  i 


7.. 


iM' 


IN  the  Morning  we  confidered  the  OccafiO!! of  Joib*s 
nuking  this  glorious  Speech  to  the  Hoft  ot  Ifrael — 
and  ihvwed  in  the  firlt  Place — The  Lawfulnefs  of 
taking  up  Arms  to  oppofe  and  fubdue  unreafonabie  and 
inveterate  Enemies. —     v-      -         r  5 

In  the  next  Place— confidered  Courage  as  a  neceflary 
Qualification  in  Sjldiers  in  order  to  Succtfs  and  Viftory, 
i|od  plaqtd  it  upon  Religion  as  its  true  and  proper  B.iris. — 

'  •        I  go  on  now,     ^         ;  -  ^        ,  ^.       ^ 

Thirdly,  To  confider  the  Principles  and  Motives,  fog- 
gefted  in  our  Text,  that  fliould  influence  Soldiers  to  a  cou- 
rageous anr!  heroick  Condudl,  when  they  are  called  to 
encounter  Enemies. 

Be  of  good  Courage  and  let  us  flay  the  Men  *'  Not  foe 
'*  Tay  and  ^^refermcnt,  for  Honour  and  Fame,"  baifor  our 


going  forth  to  tVar  conftdered  and  urged^      13 


V6^ 


.  ,\ 


4f4f^ 


for  our 

do  that 


Joab's 

frael— 

Inefs  of 

ble  and 


eceffary 
^iftory, 
Bifis.— 


/es,  fog' 
0  a  cou- 
:alled  to 

•i  ■••,- .. 

Not  foe 
aijor  our 


People,  and  the  Cities  of  our  God,  «*  For  the  publick  Stfe- 
*•  ly  ami  Wdfarr,  in  which  the  Glory  of  God  is  fo  much 
•*  intercftcd— God  and  our  Country  wasche  Word.— Let  ut 
**  be  valiant  f'^om  a  Love  to  Ifrael ;  that  are  our  People, 
«*  defctrded  from  the  fame  Stock,  for  whom  wc  are  em- 
"  ployed  i  <n(1  in  whofr  Peace  we  (hall  have  Peace ;  and 
*'  from  a  Prmripl  of  Love  to  God,  for  they  are  bw 
**  Cities  we  are  h^hiing  in  the  Defence  of.'*        « 


.1;.. 


O- 


.! 


Here  now  it  may  be  obferved,- 


That  their  Ptople  juftly  expffl:  that  they  (h  luld  behave 
themfelvesas  Soldiers  ought  to  do,  in  a  manly  and  courage^ 
ous  Manner.— Thry  are  bro'c  into  Circumftances  of  Dan« 
ger — their  ambit  (jus,  refllefs  and  inveterate  Enemies  are 
plotting  to  difi^oHTi  Is  ihi  m,  and  bring  them  into  Bondnge 
and  Slavrry  or  to  deflroy  them. — And  they  will  probably 
accompli (h  their  Ends,  unl.fs  fomeihing  be  done  to  curb 
and  rtftrain  them.  In  order  to  prevent  the  Miferies  they 
are  threatned  with,  they  are  obliged  to  raife  Forces  and 
Armies  for  the  common  Saff  ty.  And  now  if  there  arc 
Numbers  fufficient  rhat  ofFrr  themfelves  to  go  forth  upon 
fuch  an  important  Ovicafion,  yet  it  is  at  immenfe  Charge 
and  Expence  that  ih^y  are  rais'd  and  equipt  and  main- 
tained :  This  that  I  have  now  faid,  befure  holds  true  as  to 
the  Britifh  Nation  and  her  American  Plantations.        ,  ^ 

■  !.« 

■f 

And  now  can  it  be  tho'c  that  the  principal  Defign  of  a 
Nation  or  Country  in  forming  military  Expeditions,  and 
putting  themfelves  to  this  va(t  Tiouble  and  Expence,  is 
merely  this,  that  Officers  and  Soldiers  fhould  be  put  in- 
to Pay  and  get  their  Bread  ?  Have  they  nothing  more  in 
View  than  their  putting  on  their  military  Habits  and  mak- 
ing a  mighty  Flourifh  with  their  Swords  and  Guns,  and 
other  military  Implements?  Is  it  all  that  is  expedted  that 
they  have  the  Appearance  of  Soldiers,  but  are  at  Liberty 
to  idle  away  their  Time,  to  give  themfelves  up  to  Diver- 
-;  ^  '  *  lions. 


m 


m 


uw 


11 ; 


%4      f&e  Mvice  of  Joab  to  the  Hoji  ofjfrad 

lions,  and  nrgle£):  fpeaking  wich  the  Enemy  ;  or  if  they 
do  fo,  unconcern'd  which  Way  Matters  go  ?  Or  if  the 
Enemy  comes  to  the  Charge,  fkulking  and  fneaking  away, 
and  as  timorous  Hares  fleeing,  and  this  when  they  may  not 
be  purfued  ?  Can  it,  I  fay,  be  fuppofed  that  a  Country  ex- 
pe6t  nothing  more  from  the  Armits  whom  they  fend  forth 
and  fupport,  to  their  own  great  Dillrefs  too  in  a  Multi- 
tude of  InOances,  than  all  this  ?  Verily,  Expeditions  can'c 
be  tho't  to  fucceed,  unlefs  both  Officers  and  Soldiers  exert 
themfelves  and  play  the  Men.  And  as  the  profefs'd  De- 
fign  of  a  Country  in  forming  Expeditions,  is  that  their 
Enemies,  who  are  plotting  their  Ruin  and  taking  their 
Meafures  accordingly,  may  be  reftrain'd  and  fubdued  ;  fo 
it  is  their  juft  and  very  natural  Exptdation,  that  their 
Troops  whom  they  fend  forth  and  maintain  and  promife 
a  Reward  to,  fhould  exert  themfelves  to  the  utmoft-, 
that  fo,  under  God,  they  may  be  inftrumenta]  of  accomplifh- 
ing  their  D^figns  and  lengthningout  their  Tranquility. — 


iil 


m 
m 


I' 

■II; 

I 


tl 


Let  its  play  the  Men  for  our  People,  in  Compliance  with 

their  juft  Expectations. Armies  raifed  and  fupportcd 

by  a  Country,  do  actually  owe  it  their  bcft  Services.  To 
exert  themfelves  courageoufly  and  manfully  in  their  Caufe, 
is  a  Debt  which  they  owe  to  it.  And  when  they  are  neg- 
ligent and  carelefs,  fneaking  and  daftardly,  fo  giving  Ene- 
mies Advantage  againft  it,  emboldening  and  animating 
them  to  purfue  their  Schemes  for  the  Deftruftion  of  the 
Country,  they  are  chargeable  with  downright  Injuftice. 
If  their  befl  Services  are  due  to  the  Country  then  it  is  un- 
juft  in  them  to  with-hold  them — to  betray  the  Caufe  they 
are  engaged  in,  and  give  Enemies  the  defir'd  Occafion  to 
ravage  and  deftroy  it. — So  that  by  Virtue  of  what  a  Coun- 
try does  for  its  Armies,  and  what  it  engages  further  to 
do  for  them,  an  Obligation  on  the  Part  of  their  Armies 
arifes  to  exert  themfelves  in  the  moft  courageous,  vigorous 
Manner  for  their  Good. — And  then,  befides  they  are  bound 
hereto  by  military  Oaths  and  Sscramenci.    And  if  they 

do 


] 


ihey 
if  the 
iway, 
ly  not 
•y  cx- 
I  forth 
Vlulti- 
i  can't 
i  exert 
d  De- 
t  their 
g  their 
edi  fo 
It  their 
jrocnife 
jtmoft, 
[iipliih- 

y-— 

ice  wuh 
pported     > 
:s.    To 
r  Caufe, 
ire  neg- 
ig  Enc- 
^imating 
of  the 
injufticc. 
it  is  un- 
lufe  they 
cafion  to 
: a  Coun- 
jrther  to 
r  Armies 
vigorous 
ire  bound 
id  it  they 
do 


going  forth  to  War  confidered  and  urged,       if 

do  not  courageoudy  id  the  Duty  adigned  them,  they  are 
aifo  unfaithful  to  their  God.—  ^ 

Again,—  Let  m  flay  the  Men  for  our  Peopk^  from  ^ 
Principle  of  Love  to  them.-- — 

Indeed  moft  Men  have  a  natural  Fondheis  for  their  Coun« 
try  where  they  were  born  and  bred  up.    The  People  of  it 
tire  more  natural  than  other  People.     When  at  a  Diflance 
from  it,  it  is  often  thought  of,  and  they  defire  a  return  td 
it.     And  it  would  be  a  grievous  Thing  to  the  mof^  to 
be  wholly  banifh'd  from  it,  never  to  return  more.— The 
moft  have  a  Defire  for  the  Welfare  of  their  Country  i* 
and  fuch  is  the  Love  and  Regard  that  many  have  for  it, 
that  they  are  difpos'd  to  ferve  it,  and  will  accordingly  eXerC 
ihemfelves  in  various  Ways  to  promote  it's  Happinefs,  and 
efpecially  in  fuch  Places  and  Stations  as  give  them  Opportu- 
nity for  it,  and  when  alfo,  agreeable  to  thole  Places  and  Sta- 
tions, it  is  expefted  of  them  that  they  fhould  do  fo.- • 

And  there  is  abundant  Reafon  for  every  one  to  love  his 
Country,  for  in  many  Inftances  that  might  be  mentioned, 
he  is  under  Obligations  to  it — yea  every  ones  Intereft  is 
clcfely  connefted  with  that  of  his  Country.  So  that  if 
he  has  a  Regard  to  it  and  ferves  it  according  to  his  Ca- 
pacity, he  himfelf  fhares  in  the  Benefit.  If  one  Member 
in  the  Body  natural  ferves  another  Member,  the  ivhole 
is  benefited,  even  fo  it  is  in  the  Body  politick. — 

A  publick  Spirit  is  befure  an  excellent  Spirit,  and 
were  it  duly  cultivated,  the  Publick  would  be  in  vaftly 
more  agreeable  Circumftances  than  it  commonly  is.— *-— 
But  a  private,  felfifh  Spirit  has  very  much  gaioM  the 
Afcendant  of  a  publick  one.  The  moft  may  wifli  well 
to  their  Country,  but  they  can'c  find  it  in  their  Heart  to 
ferve  it.  Or  if  at  any  Time  they  do  ferve  it,  it  muft  be 
in  a  Confiftence  with  ferving  their  private  Intereft  at  the 
fame  Time. — The  principal  Queft ion  with  many,  when 

.     .  D  Servicea 


iW 


I 


ifS      fjl>e  Advtce  (jfjoat  tq  the  JJoJt  oftjrael 

Services  are  propos'd  to  tbem  for  the  GoQd  of  the  Pijblick» 
is,  not  what  is  Duty  ?  not  what  will  turn  out  for  the 
Good  of  the  whole  ?  But  will  this  and  the  other  Matter 
turn  out  to  my  own  private*  perfonal  Intcreft  ?  If  there 
is  no  Proiped  of  this,  the  Publick  may  take  Care  of  it- 
felf  for  all  them.  But  this  moft  certainly  is  a  very  bale 
and  unworthy  Spirit,  more  efpecially  in  Perfons  of  Trvift. 
i^uch  as  thtfe  efpecially  ought  to  cultivate  a  I^ve  and 
Regard  to  the  Publick  and  a  Difpofuion  to  do  whatever 
Service  lies  in  their  Power, 

^*  'Tis  related  of  Auguftus,  who  (as  one  obferves)  wa$ 
*'  one  of  the  befl  and  wifeft  of  all  the  Roman  Emperors* 
**  before  the  Chriftian  Religion  was  publickly  counte- 
•*  nanc'd  in  that  State,  that  when  the  People  offered 
^*  him  the  Title  of  Lord^^  a  Title  of  Honour  and 
l^efpe^,  *•  he  refus'd  it,  and  thought  the  Title  of  PaHf 
•*  Pqtx'i^.y  the  Father  of  his  Country,  more  honourable." 
^^A  i^oble  Ifi^^nce  of  a  publick  Spirit.^— He  had  rather 
wear  a  Title  that  carried  in  the  Idea  of  it.  Love  and 
tCindnefs  and  Bt^neficence,  than  a  Tide  of  D^nity  and 
fiopoor.  He  did  not  defire  to  be  look'd  upon  merely 
as  high  and  mighty,  but  in  the  more  amiable  and  en^ 
gaging  Light  of  a  kind  and  tender  Father  to  his  Coun** 
try*  He  was  diipoi&M  to  (hew  himfelf  fuch  an  one>  cq 
all  Intents  and  Purpoies.  ,,.  ^;  ... 

But  then  it  ts  not  incumbent  merely  upon  Perfons  of 
Honour  and  Dignity  and  in  Places  of  gr«at  ProH<  to  be 
of  a  publick  Spirit,  but  uppn  all,  whatever  low  Sphere 
they  may  n^ovc  in.- — And  to  apply  it  to  the  Cafe 
tve  ai?c  ccniidering, — It  is  npt  only  incumber  upon 
Q^nerals  and  O/Hcers*  wliether  pri^oipal  pr  fubordinate, 
^jat  even  uspon  privs^te  Centinels.  And  whenever  ih^y 
%r^  Jin  the  Providi^knce  of  Qoyd  c^ll'd  to  go  forth  to  ferve 
U\fir  CouAtry,  b  ^;(peditions  againft  the  common  Ene- 
tp^t  Tuob  ihoiri4  ^9  tiieir  Love  aj^  R^ard  to  it  as  tQ 

put 


going  forth  to  War  confidered  and  urgedi      %  f 


blickt 
>r  the 
Matter 
there 
of  it- 
y  baie 
Trqft. 
and 
)acever 


e$)  wa$ 
perorf, 
counte- 
offcred 
ur  and 
if  ?iiUf 
jrablt.'* 
i  rather 
ive  and 
ity  and 
merely 
and  eiw 
IS  Coun» 
one>  tp 


rfons  of 

fi<  to  be 

Sphere 

he  ^^^ 
vi.  upon 
ordinate^ 
vcr  thc^y 
to  Co;  v.e 

it  as  td 

put 


pot  them  upon  the  mod  br^ive  and  gallant  Beht^toor» 
in  order  to  fubdiie  the  Enemy,  and  that  their  Coltmfr]f 
may  reap  the  Adirant^ges  and  BeneBcs  of  a  com{)Ieat 
Coaqueft^ 

ThiM  I  h^te  conftdered  the  firft  Motive  foggefted  vti  tm 
Texf,  that  fhouki  iftfiuence  Soldiers  to  a  courageous  andhe^ 
roick  Condo^,  when  they  are  called  ifoeneoumlerErtemies. 


K.i 


There  is  another,  which  is  not  Ids  greit  and  fanportant, 
which  1  now  proceed  to  fpeak  to— v/as.  ^ 

Soldiers  fhould  be  courageous  and  a^ive  when  caH^<f 
to  encounter  with  Enemies  from  a  Regard  to  God,  at 
well  as  a  Regard  to  their  Country.— —  Let  us  pfay  th0 
Men  for  the  Cifies  of  our  God-^The  Cities  which  our  Godf 
hanh  founded,  and  built  up  and  prote^ed,  where  he  hath  fet 
his  Name*  his  Sanftuary  and  Worlhip. — Cities  andCoun« 
t<ries  in  which  the  glorious  Name  of  God  is  known  and  ac«' 
knowledged,  where  his  pure  Religion  and  Worfliip  is  main- 
tain'd.  Such  muft  doubtlefs  be  peculiarly  dear  to  God.  ^bg 
Lord  hvetb  the  Gates  of  ^ion  more  than  all  the  Dwellings  of 
Jacob.  *  In  Zion  was  his  Name  known  and  great.  There 
was  his  Temple,  where  he  received  the  grateful  Tribute 
of  religious  Worlhip.  And  wherever  this  is  the  Cafe, 
God  is  glorified — There  he  has  a  fpecial,  p:;culiar  Inters  ft 

which  is  very  dear  to  him The  Intereft  of  God,  which 

is  the  greateft  and  mod  important  one,  ought  to  lie  near 
the  Heart  of  every  one.  Every  one  (hould  be  greatly 
concern*d  for  the  Glory  and  H  >nour  of  his  gr^-at  Name, 
—(hould  defire  that  it  may  be  promoted,  and  endeavour 
according  ro  his  Station  and  Capacity  that  it  may  be  fo.-^ 
But  now,  il  powerful  and  inveterate  Enemies  over- run 
Cities  and  Countries  where  God  has  been  in  fome  Meafure 
glorified  in  the  Way  of  his  huly  (nditquons  and  Ap- 

D  2  pointm^nc% 


*  ^i^\^  8^.   ^, 


■^iri 


28        Xbe  Advice  ofjoah  to  the  Hofi  aflfrael 


1  r  ii 

m 


ij 


i 


i'. 


W' 


r 


m 


'fr 


pointments ;    if  Things  are  turn*d  upHde  dovvn,  &nd  the 
Sanfbuaries  of  God  become*  defolare,  what  will  bfcome  of 
God's  great  N  itne  ? —  Wc  fi.id  the  Pfalmift,  on  Occafion 
of  the  Heathen's  invading    J>:^ruralem  and   the  Temple 
there,  and  running   all  Things  into  dreadful  Confufion, 
thus  praying  to  G  d  f  Help  us  0  God  of  our  Salvottion,  for 
the  Glory  of  thy  Name,    And  then  ufcs  this  Argument  to  en- 
force the  Petidon,  Wherefore  Jhould  the  Heathen  fay  ^  where  is 
their  God  ?  It  deeply  concern'd  him  to  think  of  the  Dif- 
honour  dope  to  God  by  the  heathen-Enemy's  prevailing 
agai'jft  Jerafalem,  the  Holy  City,  the  City  of  th^ir  So- 
lemnities, the  City  of  their  God. — Now  fliould  heathenilH 
and  antichriftian  Enemies   from  Time  to   Time  invade 
the  Cities  of  our  God,  how  would  his  Intereft  fuffer,  his 
Honour  be  debas'd,  his  Glory  eclips'd  ?     And  now,  when 
the  Cities  of  pur  God  are  at  any  Titpe  in  Danger  from 
his  and  his  People's  Enemies,  and  it  is  neceflary  to  draw 
the  Sword  upnn  them,  ought  not  thofe  who  have  it  put 
ipto  their  H^n^^s  to  wield  \t  vigorouQy  and  dexteroufly, 
to  deftroy  them*  if  they  cannot  retrain  them  '<    Or  iix 
Other  Words,  ought  not  the  Honour  and  Glory  of  God 
to  be  fuch  a  dear  and  facred  Point  with  all  who  go  forth 
sgainft  Enemies,  as  to  aniniate  them,  and  put  them  upon 
t:xc*rting  themfelves  to  the  utmofV,  that  they  may  be  fub- 
dued,  and  the  Intereft  and  Honour  of  God  on  the  whole 
be  fecured  and  maintained,  as  well  as  the  temporal  Good 
^nd  Welfare  of  their  People  ? —  Let  us  be  of  good  Courage 
and  flay  the  Men  for  our  People  and  for  the  Cities  of  our  God, 

And  now  I  proceed  to  the  lafl  Thin^  to  be  fpoken  to,  viz. 

Fourthly,    To  confider  the  pious  Remark  which  Joab 

■  makes  upon  the  whole,  to  the  Hoft  of  Ifrael,  after  he 

had  animated  and  encouraged  (hem  in  the  Manner    wet 

have  heard-  £^  of  good  Courage^  ^c.    And  tU  Lord  da 

that  which  feemeih  him  good,  "'     /' ' 

Aa 


-f  Pfalm  79.  <^,  JO. 


1  the 
ne  of 
afion 
mple 
ifion, 
n,for 
:o  en- 
here  is 
I  Dif- 
ailing 
r  Spr 

henilh 
invade 
er,  his 

when 
r  from 
)  draw 
it  puc 
roufly , 

Or  ia 
3f  God 
;o  forth 
n  upon 
be  fab- 
;  whole 
il  Good 
Courage 
mr  Cod, 

to,  viz, 

ch  Joab 
after  he 
ner  we 
Lord  da 


going  forth  to  War  confiiered  and  urged.        \^  ' 

As  much  as  to  fay,—  "  Let  nothing  be  wanting  inus^ 
^*  whatever  the  Succefs  be.  Let  God's  Work  be  done 
<*  by  us,  and  then  God's  Will  be  done  concerning  us.** 

^U  Lord  do  that,  £s?f . 

It  is  an  Acknowledgment  in  the  Firft  Place,—     * 

That  nothing  copld  be  done  to  Purpofe  in  this  Ex- 
pedition they  were  engaging  in,  without  God,  without  his 
Agency. .  . .,  ^,    _,^   ,..,',..     _   ,  , -,   ■. 

And  fo  it  18  in  all  like  Cafes. Good  and  faithful, 

wife  and  brave  Generals  and  Officers  are  ncceflary,  ■ 
Swords  and  Guns,  and  other  Implements  of  War  are  ne- 
cr(riry,~and  Courage  and  Fortitude  in  all,  both  Officers 
and  Soldiers,  is  nece0ary, — and  under  thefe  Circumftances 
there  is  a  probable  Profpeft  of  Succefs.  But  then  *'  a 
*^  mod  expert  and  valiant  General,  with  an  Army  well 
^'  difciplin'd,  equipt  and  pofted,  and  confiding  of  fturdy, 
**  refoluteand  bold  Men,  thro*  fome  unforefeen  Accident, 
•?  feme  unexpedted  turn  of  Providence,  tl>e  Change  of  the 
"  Wind  and  Weather,  may,  thro*  their  too  great  Boldnefs 
*•  and  purfuing  the  Enemy  too  far,  lofe  the  Day.  ■  '  ■■ 
**  there  is  a  fecret,  powerful,  over- ruling  Providence,  that 
"  determjneth  Events  ^uite  crofs  to  the  natural  Tenden- 
^*  cy  of  Things  and  the  rational  Expectations  of  Men.— ^ 

That  the  Succefs  of  military  Expeditions  is  with  God, 
may  be  accounted  for  partly,  from  the  Do6trine  of  his 
univcrfal  Providence.^ /i/tf  bath  prepared  bis  Throne  in  the 
Heavens^  and  bis  Kingdom  ruletb  over  alU  *  And  if  over 
alL  why  (hould  his  PreHdency  and  Agency  be  excluded 
in  an  Affair  of  fuch  great  Importance  as  that  we  are  con- 
fidering  }  An  Affair,  whicti  concerns  the  Intereft  of 
whole  Provinces,  Kingdoms  and  Nations  ? — It  is  a  clear 
pidtate  of  the  Light  of  Natqre,  that  if  God  made  the 

World, 


TT- 


I  P(alin  103.  19, 


I  a'] 

■SI' 


m 


I*;''! 


':ij|| 


in: 


|0      ^&  Jihtce  ofjoab  to  the  Hoft  oflfraet ' 

World,  Hi  mtt/t  he  Lord  of  all.  But  then  befides  what 
lius  Lfghc  of  Nature  didates  upon  this  Head,  we  find 
Chat  divine  Revelation  is  futi  and  rxpre  s  in  declaring  the 
Agency  of  the  moft  H  gh  in  rh-  SucceflTes  ot  War. 
^ine  O  Lord  is  the  ViSiory,  §—  the  Battie  is  not  your*s 
lut  God^s  +— T^ro*  God  we  fitall  do  valiant ly^  for  be  it  is 
tbatjball  tread  down  our  Enemies  ||  A  Muicitudf  ot  the 
like  PalTiges  might  be  produced,  were  it  nectflary  in 
Confirmation  ot  che  P  int.— So  thar  nntwithilanding  all 
military  Preparations,  the  bravpf[l  Officers  and  Soldiers, 
the  beft  concerted  Plans,  anU  the  m  'it  vigorous,  manl/ 
and  proper  Methods  to  execute!  them,  yet  after  all,  the 
Event  is  with  God,  the  God  o*  Armies.  If  Armies  are, 
on  (be  whole,  fuccefsful  according  to  Exped^ition  and 
Defire,  the  Rij^ht  Hand  and  Holy  Arm  ot  God  is  princi- 
pally to  be  eyed  and  regaf-ded^  which  has  ^qc  them  che 
yiAory.— r    Again, 

.•' 

Secondly,  The  Events  oT  military  Expeditions  ^rc  ^o 

be  left  with  Cod.    'Twas  as  much  as  if  Joab  had  faid  to 

bis  Forces,  Let  us  dp  our  puty  in  the  prelt^nt  Affair  and 

leave  the  Event  to  God. And  certain  it  is  that  Events 

of  this  Nature  as  well  as  all  other  mud  be  left  to  God. 
For  God  will  do  as  he  pleafes  in  his  own  World  and  in 
his  own  Dominions.  And  his  Hand  can't  be  (lay*d,  ha 
can't  be  hindred  or  oppofed  in  any  of  his  Meafures.  For 
none  has  an  Arm  like  his.  |n  vain  may  the  united 
Strength  and  Force  ot  all  his  Creatures  be  oppo^'d  to  his. 
They  are  all  as  Qriflioppers  before  Him.— — 

...  >  "'     . 

But  then  what  Jcab  here  fayg,  fpeaks  a  Difpofitian  i« 
himfelt  (and  the  fame  he  would  lead  his  Forces  to)  to  refeff 
the  Event  of  the  prclent  Campaign  to  his  Difpofal.  Tbfi 
Lord  do  that,  (Jc.  And  this  was  a  religious  Dilpofiiion 
rn  him.     Whereas  there  is  no  Religion  in  referring  the 

Event 

I  I  Chfon.  29.  \^\,      fa  Chron.  30,  15.      |}  Pfal.  19^.  V5i 


going  fifth  to  War  con/UereJ  and  urged*       jf 


what 
find 
;the 
War. 
mr*s 
tt  ts 
>f  the 
ry  in 
g  all 
diers, 

I,  the 
es  are, 
n  and 
jrinci- 
m  the 


ZffL  to 
faid  CO 
air  and 
Events 
o  God. 
a^d  ia 
y*d,  ha 
I.  For 
united 
\  CO  his. 


fition  in 
to  refef 
al.  Tb^ 
[pnftiioil 
ring  the 
Event 


Bvetit  of  Things  to  God,  merely  becaufe  wf  are  under  t 
Ncctrdicy  of  doing  ib  in  Confideration  of  his  AltniKhnnelf 
and  can^c  helt»  our  felves.  But  that  is  a  religious  Difpofi* 
tion  when,  atter  we  have  done  our  Duty,  we  freely  ita?f 
the  Event  to  Qod,  to  order  this  out  juft  as  he  pleafes.  Thif 
feems  to  be  the  Difpofition  of  Joabat  this  Time  Nodoubl 
he  defired  Succefs  and  Vidory.  This  was  natural  and 
rational  But  then  it  wai  with  this  Provifo,  if  it  was 
agreeable  to  the  Will  and  Pleafure  of  God.  He  has  a 
further  Vi^w  of  God,  than  merely  bis  being  of  Almightf 
Power,  and  (o  able  to  bring  Events  to  pafg.  He  eyef 
him  at  the  fame  Time  as  being  of  infinite  Wifdom,  and 
(6  knowinix  what  is  bed  to  be  done  in  this  great  and 
important  AfF4ir.  And  he  freely  refers  the  Matter  19 
the  Difpofal  of  his  iafinite  Wirdom....i^«—   ,,  . 


■>■-<«,' 


M 


)i 


In  AfTairs  of  this  Nature  we  are  confidering*  as  w^l 
as  all  others,  we  are  to  lay  this  down  as  an  undoubted 
Maxim,  that  God  rhe  great  Governor  of  the  World,  and 
Difpofer  of  all  Things,  is  infinite  in  Wifdom.  and  fo 
knows  what  is  bed  to  be  done  in  every  Cafe,  The  wifeft 
and  the  bell  of  Men  are  but  (hort-fighted.  They  judge 
according  to  the  natural  Probabilities  and  Appearances  of 
Thing9.~<^Viewing  all  Circumftances,  they  are  led  to  con« 
elude  chat  their  military  Expeditions,  not  only  will  be 
fucceed^d,  but  chat  it  is  of  the  laft  Importance  that  they 
fliould  be  h,  and  that  a  Pefeat  will  be  the  Oeftru^ion 
and  Ruin  of  the  Ckwncry.  And  according  to  the  nacural 
Courfe  of  Things,  their  Apprehenfions  may  be  well 
grounded.  But  yet  they  can'i  look  into  Futurity— can'c 
lay  what  may  be  in  the  Womb  of  Providence  and  wba( 
Turns  may  happen  hereafter.  Whereas  God  has  thff 
whole  Plan  of  his  Government  before  him  in  one  entire* 
pj&rfe^  View }  and  knows  how  to  briog  Order  out  of 
Con^uGon,  Light  out  of  Darknefs.  So  that  all  Thingi 
are  done  by  Him  in  the  wifcft  and  beft  Manner,  and 
(hiiifia  th«  wlmki  will  bo  fecn  and  felt  aod  cpnie&'d  by 

hia 


3* 


ne  Advice  rfjoab  to  the  Hbfi  bfjfraet 


Iff 


m 


his  own  faithful  and  obedient  People. — So  that  in  Times 
of  War  and  military  Expeditions,  it  is  not  for  us  to 
prefcribe  to  God,  but  having  done  that  which  was  our 
Duty  to  do.  Events  are  rcllgioufly  to  be  rcterr'd  to  Him, 
CO  whom  they  btlong,  to  order  them  out,  as  He  in  infi- 
nite Wifdom  fees  meet. 

And  now,  from  the  feveral  Heads  that  have  been 
difcourfed  upon,  we  might  take  Occafion  to  reflect  upon 
the  Degeneracy  of  Mankind. — That  inftead  ol  that  Ho- 
linefs.  Love  and  Peace,  which  ought  by  all  the  Laws  of 
Reafon,  as  well  as  Divine  Revelation,  to  be  pra£tis*d 
univerfally  by  them  ;  that  they  fhould  be  fo  much  under 
the  Influence  of  their  Lufts  and  PafTions — that  thefe  fhould 
operate  as  they  do  to  the  Mifery  and  Diflrefs  of  one  ano« 
ther,  in  dreadful  Wars  and  Slaughters  and  Defolations. — 
Tho*  the  Advice  in  our  Text  to  Courage  and  Fortitude 
in  military  Expeditions  is  good,  and  fhould  be  complied 
with,  yet  how  fad  is  the  Confideration  that  there  fhould 
ever  be  Occafion  for  fuch  Advice?  , 

I  might  take  Occafion  alfo  to  mind  you  of  your  fpi« 
ritual  Warfare— To  call  upon  you  to  enlifl  under  the 
Banner  of  Chrifl~>to  put  on  the  whole  Armour  of  God, 
and  under  the  Captain  of  your  Salvation,  to  fight  coura- 
geoufly  againfl  your  fpiritual  Enemies,  with  which  ye 
are  conflantly  furrounded,  that  fo  yOu  may  finally  receive 
the  Laurels  of  compleat  Conquerors  which  he  has  to  beflow. 


T--:,J    > 


1 ,; 


'  I  might  take  Occafion  alfo  to  lead  your  Thoughts 
op  to  the  heavenly  World,  where  are  no  Lufls  and 
Corruptions,  no  Enemies,  Wars  or  Tumults—where  Ho- 
linefs,  Peace  and  Harmony  reign  and  fhine  in  glorious 
Ferfe^ion  ;  and  excite  you  to  labour  earneflly  that  what* 
ever  may  be  the  State  of  this  lower  World,  whatever  the 
Evils,  Wars  and  Confufions  there  are  in  it,  yet  that  when 
you  are  difmiis'd  from  U  you  may  attain  that  glorious 
'~.y    '  World 


V! 


^:3^ 


itnea 
us  to 
s  our 

Htm, 
\  inft- 


beeA 

upoA 
tHo- 
aws  of 
aais»d 

under 
Ihould 
ic  ano* 
ons. — 
irtitude 
mplied 

(hould 


)ur  fpi- 
ier  the 
DtGod, 

coura- 
lich  ye 

receive 
beftow. 

houghts 
jfts  and 
,ere  Ho- 
glorious 
at  what- 
ever the 
lat  when 
glorious 
Woild 


gomg  forth  to  War  cojjfidered  and  urged,      3  j 

World  and  the  everlafting  BlefTednefs  and  Joys  of  it.--» 
But  thefe  and  other  Refledfcions  that  might  be  offered  I 
ffaall  pafs  over— and  conclude  with  a  few  Words  fuitable 
to  the  prefent  Day. ,      ^  .  .^.,  ., 

As  God  is  the  great  Sovereign  of  the  World  and 
Biipofer  of  all  Things ;  as  we  have  a  conftant  and  ne- 
cefTary  Dependance  upon  Him  for  all  Good,  perfonal  and 
publick,  fo  it  is  but  fit  and  proper  that  we  religioufly 
acknowledge  him,  pray  to  him  and  crufl  in  him  for  the 
Beftowmenc  of  it. 


M;    ,(* 


The  Defign  of  this  Day's  Solemnity  is  in  a  publick 
Manner  to  afk  of  God  his  Smiles  upon  us  and  upon  the 
Publick,  our  Nation  and  Land,  thro*out  the  Courfe  of  the 
enfuing  Year  more  efpecially. — And  now  in  Addition  to 
our  Prayers  and  Supplications,  may  we  all  truly  humble  our- 
felves  before  God  for  our  manifold  Sins,  and  reform  every 
Thing  that  is  amifs  amonglt  us.- Let  every  one  care- 
fully fee  to  this.— May  this  be  the  Cafe  univerfally  with  this 
People.  For  notwithftanding  we  may  make  many  Pray- 
ers, yet  if  we  continue  impenitent  and  unreformed,  we 
may  with  very  little  Reafon  expecb  that  God  will  fmile 
upon  us  and  blefs  us. But  if  we  are  willing  and  obe- 
dient we  may  exped  to  eat  the  Good  of  the  Land-~to  be 
biefiiM  in  the  City  and  in  the  Field,  in  our  Bafket  and  in 

our  Store,  and   in  all    the    Works  of  our  Hands. • 

Godlinefs  is  profitable  for  the  Life  that  now  is,       .  ^ 

But  then  befides  the  common  and  ordinary  Concerns 
of  the  Year,  which  we  are  this  Day  call'd  upon  in  a  pub- 
lick  united  Manner  to  afk  of  God  his  Smiles  upon,  we 
are  foalfo  and  more  efpecially  to  afk  them  upon  us,  as  to 
the  War  which  we  are  engag'd  in. — For  the  Succefs  of  the 
Bririfh  Arms  in  Europe  and  America,  and  for  the  Succefs 
of  theArmsof  the  King  of  Prussia,  that  glorious 
Potentate,  that  ccvragecus,  religious  and  fuccefsful  Hero, 

E  whom 


^  l]^^ 


■Ml        ' 


.^'f^ 


14      iTi^^  -^</w^  ofjoab  to  the  Hofl  oflfrael 

whom  God  hath  raifed  up  to  efpoufe  his  Caufe  and  r^p- 
pofe  his  and  his  FeopU's  ancichrift4an  Enemies,  and  bf 
whom  great  and  memorable  Exploits  have  been  perform'd 
fince  the  prefent  Rupture  among  the  Nations. 

And  very  fignal  and  glorious  alfo  has  been  the  Succefs 
wherewith  God  has  crown'd  the  Britifh  Arms  both  in 
Europe  and  America,  more  efpecia)ly  the  Uit  Year. 

We  were  in  Hopes  that  the  laft  Year  would  have 
fini(h*d  the  Campaign,  efpecially  in  America :  That  be- 
fi^es  the  Redudlion  of  the  ftrong  and  important  Fortrefs 
Qf  hauifioHrgy  we  Ihould  have  penetrated  into  the  very 
Heart  of  Canada^  and  made  an  effedual  Conqucft  of  that 

too. But  in  this  our  Hopes  were  difappoin^ed — and 

we  arc  again  to  make  another  Attempt.  >  > 

OtJR  GRACIOUS  Sovereign  and  his  Minifters  are 
very  fenfibie  of  the  Neccffity  of  the  Redu6tion  of  if,  in 
order  to  the  Well- Being,  and  even  the  Being  of  thefe 
American  Provinces  and  Colonies:  Of  whofe  Importance 
to  the  Britifh  Nation  they  aredoubtlefs  morefenfible  than 
in  Times  paft.  As  an  Evidence  of  this  a  confiderable 
naval  Force  was  orderM  to  Winter  here  to  proteft  us  and 
to  be  early  in  the  Spring  upon  BuHnefs. — And  in  Addition 
to  this,  a  grand  Fleet  and  fome  Thoufands  more  of  Britifh. 
Troops  are  deflin'd  hither  to  join  thofe  already  here. — 
How  ready  to  afTift  us  with  their  Fleets  and  Troops  a;»d 
Money  ! — How  folicitous  for  our  Prefcrvation  and  Safety  I 
And  OUR  GRACIOUS  Sovereign,  who  has  long  been 
t,  nurfing  Father  to  the  Nation  and  its  Dependencies  (may 
God  flill  preferve  his  anointed!)  he  doubtlefs  experts 
that  his  American  Subjeds,  for  whom  he  has  and  is  doing 
fo  much,  fhould  exert  themfelvts  in  that  which  is  more 
immediately  their  own  Caufe,  their  own  Intc^rc(t>  and  or 
which  their  owr  Safety  depends.-— 

-  Tho^ 


going  forth  to  War  confiiered  and  urged.         J  5 


jd  by 
brm'd 


luccefs 
oth  io 


1  have 
lat  be- 
'ortrcfs 
e  very 
of  that 
d — and 


lert  are 
f  it,  in 
■A  thefe 
jortance 
t)le  than , 
iderabic 
;  us  and 
iddition 
fBritifh. 
here. — 
icps  5,nd 
I  Safety  1 
ng  been 
ies  (may 
expedlj 
is  doing 
is  more 
,  and  on 

Tho- 


Tho*  we  have  in  pad  Years  been  unfaccefsful,  as  to 
the  prefent  AtFair,  been  greatly  perplexed,  had  our  Nam- 
bers  much  thin'd  and  been  at  great  Expence,  yet  we  are 
noc  CO  be  difheartned,  to  fee  down  and  give  up  the  Poiilt. 
We  are  callM  upon  by  the  King  and  his  illuftrious  Mi- 
nifters  co  go  again  upon  this  Expedition,  and  there  is  an 
abfolute  NeceflTity  of  our  going.  And  as  we  have  always 
prov'd  loyal  and  faithful  co  the  BriciHi  Crown,  (hall  we 
(how  ourfclves  oiherwife  upon  this  very  urgent  Occafion  I 
Whac  would  be  the  Confequences  (houkl  we  refufe  to  obey 
the   Orders  and  Commands  of  our  Sovereign  and   our 

Rulers  chat  are  fent  by  him  ? Wherefore,  it  is  to  be 

hop'd  that  many  will  be  fpirited  to  go  forth  upon  the 
prefent  Expedition.— Remember  it  is  for  your  People  and 
the  Cities  of  your  God^  chac  you  are  call'd  to  go  forth,  for 
the  Prote^ion  and  Safety  of. — That  the  Good  of  your  dear 
Country,  the  Honour  of  God,  his  Caufe  and  tntereft 
I  which  is  fo  dear  and  precious  to  him,  requires  your  going 
forth.— ^Confider  how  great  and  happy  the  Confequences 
of  Succefs  will  be  co  your  Country  and  co  yourfelves,  if 
you  engage,  and  how  highly  you  will  be  honour'd  and 
refpefted  if  you  are  made  the  Inftrumenrs  of  preferving 
this  People  and  all  their  dear  and  facred  Interefls. — Befure 
good  Soldiers,  by  whom  great  and  notable  Exploits  are 
done,  are  worthy  of  Refpe6t,  of  double  Honour,  tho*  fome- 
times  it  may  have  been  ungracefully  withoheld  from  them* 
— Confider  alfo  how  terrible  will  be  the  Confequences, 
(hould  chis  People  be  backward,  (hould  chey  refufe  to  lend 
a  helping  Hand  upon  this  greac  OccaQon. — How  great 
will  be  the  Hazard  of  our  Enemies  prevailing  againS  us, 
of  rooting  us  out  in  Time,  of  deftroying  us,  or  which  is 
next  akin  to  it  and  perhaps  as  bad,  of  bringing  us  into 
miferable  Bandage  and  Slavery  ?  And  can  New>Eng]and 
Men,  who  have  ail  along  enjoy'd  the  fweets  of  Libert/ 
both  upon  civil  and  religious  Accounts,  bear  the  Tho'c 
of  this  with  any  Patience  ?  Shall  they  not  exert  thcmfelvea 
vijorodlly  ?^nd  to  their  utmoft  to  prevent  this  mo(t  ter^ 

£  3  riblQ 


I,,  m 


-I 


1^ 


m 


■J  ill 


X 


W 


3(5        7he  Advice  ofjoab  to  the  Hoft  of  Ifrael 

rible  Calatnhy  ?  Can  they  bear  to  think  of  being  depriv*d 
of  their  precious  and  invaluable  Liberties,  efpecially,  when 
it  was  with  fo  great  a  Sam,  fuch  an  immenfe  Expence  of 
Blood  and  Treifure,  that  their  renowned  Fathers  purchafed 
them — leaving  their  Native  Land  and  all  their  fair  Inheri- 
tances, and  coming  into  this  defert  Land,  a  Land  not  fown^ 
that  they  might  enjoy  their  Liberties  themfelves  and  tranf- 
mit  them  down  as  the  bed  Legacy  to  their  Pofterity  in 
fuccefliive  Generations. — And  thro'  the  Indulgence  of  Hea- 
ven, they  have  been  handed  down  even  to  usof  thepre- 
fent  Generation.  And  Ihall  we  not  endeavour  to  have 
them  continued  and  handed  down  to  thofe  that  come  after 
us?  O  that  chat  generous  Ardor  which  glow'd  in  the 
Breads  of  our  Fathers  might  be  enkindled  in  all  our  Breads, 
and  in  the  Breads  of  all  the  Sons  of  New -England!  — 
It  is  for  the  good  of  this  People,  and  for  the  Cities  of  our 
God,  that  I  think  my  feU  call'd  upon  this  Day  to  en- 
courage this  important  Enterprife.  '   ■ 

Some  poflTibly  may  be  difpos'd  to  engage  in  it,  if 
they  could  be  fatisBed  that  they  fhould  be  well  provided 
for  as  to  the  Neceflaries  of  Life,  and  might  be  fuitably  ac- 
commodated and  have  Help  and  Medicmes  in  Cafe  they 
are  fick. — Whether  any  in  Times  pad  have  had  jod  Caufc; 
but  to  complain  upon  thefe  Heads,  it  is  not  for  me  to  deter* 
mine. — However,  if  there  have  betn  Defefts,  it  is  a  Pity 
that  they  fhould  be  remedied ;  and  the  Soldiers  fhould  have 
as  much  Satisfaction  as  they  can  well  have  of  there  being  fo. 
For  doubtlefs.  Soldiers,  who  mud  unavoidably  meet  with 
various  Hardfhips  in  a  Campaign,  ftand  in  Need  of  good 
wholfome  Food  to  keep  them  in  Vi^jO'jr  and  to  enable 
them  to  do  the  Duties  adign'd  theni,  and  ought  to  be 
taken  Care  of  and  provided  with  fuitable  Medicines  whea 
they  are  fick.  And  we  hope  they  will  find  it  {o  in  the 
enfuing  Campaign.~So  that  if  any  Thing  difagreeable  as 
10  thefe  Matters  have  happen'd  in  Times  pad,  it  is  to  be 
hop'd  this  will  not  prove  a  Hindrance  and  Difcourage- 

mcnt  to  thsir  engaging  in  the  prefent  Affair. 

And 


* 


going  forth  to  War  conjidered  and  urged,       ^j 

And  now,  as  to  thofe  who  may  go  forth  upon  this  £x- 
pedirion,  1  mull,  ap:reeable  to  the  Subject  I  have  been 
upon  this  Diy,  addrefs  you  as  Joab  did  the  Hoft  of  IfraeU 

Be  of  good  Courage  and  play  the  Men, 

I  have  endeavoiir'd  to  (hew  you  the  Nature  of  true 
Coura^f,  that  it  muft  have  its  Foundation  in  Religion. — 
It  is  incumbent  upon  every  one  of  us  here  prefent,  to  fear 
God  and  his  Cominandments,  to  believe  on  the  Name  of 
his  Son  J'^fus,  as  we  would  be  happy  here  and  hereafter. 
But  how  inc  umbent  is  this  upon  thofe  who  go  forth  to 
War?  that  lo  God  may  go  along  with  them  to  preferve 
and  protefb  (hem  ?  Or  if  they  fall  in  Battle  that  they  may 
indeed  die  in  the  Bed  of  Honour,  and  that  from  the 
World  militant  their  Spirits  may  wing  away  to  the  World 
triumphant  ? 

The  great  End  of  your  going  forth  is  to  jlrve  your 
People  and  the  Cities  of  your  God.  May  thefe  important 
Intercfts  be  very  dear  to  you.  In  order  to  fecure  them 
it  is  necefTary  that  you  be  courageous  and  valiant,  that 
you  be  bold  as  Lions— not  running  needleily  into  Dan- 
gers, nor  avoiding  them  when  Duty  calls,  trufting  in  God 

fbr  Protedtion Mod  Soldiers  would  doubtlefs  look  upon 

it  as  a  Shame  and  Reproach  to  be  tax*d  with  Cowardife, 
to  fneak  and  fkulk  and  Bee  away  when  none  purfued,  yea 
tho'  they  were  purfued.  Bat  verily,  notwithftanding  the 
the  Sprightlinefs  and  Agility  of  your  Bodies  and  Flow  of 
animal  Spirits,  there  is  Danger  left  you  prove  Cowards 
and  fuffcr  the  Reproach  of  fuch  unlefs  you  are  poiTeiTed 
of  a  Principle  of  Religion.  There  can  be  no  true  Forti- 
tude in  the  Want  of  this,  and  if  there  is  no  true  Fortitude* 
there  can  be  no  good  Soldiers.  Religion,  as  has  been  faid 
this  Dayf  moft  certainly  makes  the  beft  Soldiers. 

Health  and  Vigour  of  Body  is  neceflary—Arms  and  t 
Skill  ip  ufing  them  are  alfo  necefTary.    And  when  Reli- 
gion 


|9      tb^  Aii>ke  ofjoab  to  the  Hofl  oflfrael 

g^  15  the  Spr'mg  that  fets  all  a  going,  then  they  become 
Herpes  and  arf  jiMy  to  do  valiant  Exploits. 

Wherefore  let  every  one  be  concern'd  that  he  have  the 
Fear  of  God  in  his  Heart  and  his  Laws  written  in  his 
iowatd  Parts.— Let  every  Sin  be  repented  of,  forfaken, 
and  Pardon  fought  for  moft  earneftly  thro'  the  Blood  of 
itl^  great  Atonement. — Let  no  accurfed  Thing  go  along 
ipitii  yoa  mto  the  Camp  to  trouble  the  Camp  and  to  pro- 
VfOke  God  CO  bUft  you.  Alas!  that  there  is  fo  much 
)H>rfiblc  Profaaenels  and  Impiety  in  Armies,  and  that 
\f.  is  the  Cafe  in  fuch  numerous  In^ances,  that  when  young 
Men,  many  of  whom  have  always  lived  in  agreeable 
Families  and  who  have  tht^mfelves  been  decent  and  agree* 
able  in  their  Manners,  yet  when  they  come  to  enlift  as 
Soldiers,  at  once  throw  off  all  Reftraints  and  grow  vain 
and  frothy,  and  rude  and  profane,  imagining,  it  feems,  as 
iho*  in  this  way,  they  were  to  recommend  themfelves  as 
good,  chearfud,  brave  Fellows  and  fit  for  the  Bufinefs. 
Would  to  God,  that  there  was  more  of  the  Fear  of  God  and 
of  his  great  and  glorious  Name  among  Men  m  the  military 
I^ife,  whether  fupreme  or  Subordinate.  For  the  Profane* 
l»efs  and  Impiety  which  fo  much  abounds  among  them  is 
lan  ill- boding  Symptocn.  Do  you  my  Friends,  who  may 
go  forth  keep  yoarfelves  from  every  wicked  Thing.  And 
may  you  be  (Iroog  and  very  courageous^  may  all  our 
Forces  be  iband  do  Exploits,  and  bring  the  prefent  Cam- 
paigo  to  a  happy  <Conduf;on«  fo  as  that  our  Trancjuility 
may  be  lengthened  out. 


•  ii: 


And  as  this  great  Affair  is  of  a  publ'ck  Nature,  as  it  h 
/or  tUi  PeopU  aad  for  the  Cities  of  our  God,  fo  it  concerns 
us  all,  and  this  whole  People,  to  forlake  every  evil  and 
falfe  Way,  to  repent  and  return  to  him,  and  to  be  much 
at  the  Throne  of  Grace,  that  fo  God  may  fmilc  upon  it 
«nd  crown  it  with  the  defired  Succefs. —  O  that  thi$  may 
be  the  Cafe  with  us  and  this  whole  People.— 

An4 


going  forth  to  War  conjidered  and  urged.      39 

And  now,  in  a  Word  and  I  have  done. — 

Tho'  it  is  much  to  be  defired  that  People  fliould  go 
forth  upon  this  Expedition,  and  that  every  Thing  may 
be  in  the  heft  order,  and  that  it  may  be  fucceeded,  yet 
I  can,  by  no  means  aflure  you  of  Succefs.  But  let  the 
Event  be  what  it  will.  Duty  is  ours.  If  we  obtaia 
Succefs,  this  muft  be  attributed  to  God  mod  High,  who 
performcih  all  Things.  Let  us  therefore  humbly  leave 
the  Matter  with  him.  lihf  Lord  do  that  whkb  feemib 
him  good.  If  we  have  a  proper  Senfe  of  God,  of  his  Do* 
minion  and  Sovereignty,  and  infinite  unerring  Wifdom, 
if  we  are  pofTefTed  of  a  Spirit  of  Religion  we  fiiall  do 
fo.  We  fliall  be  difpos'd  to  fubmit  to  his  Will,  tho^ 
we  (hould  bz  unfuccefsful,  as  knowing  that  all  is  well  that 
God  doth,  and  that  all  will  turn  out  well  to  bis  own 
People. 

Indeed,  God  is  wont  to  work  by  Means  and  Inftru- 
ments.     And  when  thefe  are  fuch  as  they  fliould  be  and 
properly  employ^,  we  may  hope  for  comfortable  £vents« 
as  particularly  in  the  Cafe  we  have  been  confidering. — 
The  People  of  God  have  abundant  Caufe  to  rejoice  in 
his  wife  and  righteous  Rule.    And  in  coofideration  that 
fuch  is  his  Rule,  it  is  but  a  proper  Refpe^  that  the/ 
owe  him,  heartily  to  refer  themfelves  and  all  their  Om- 
cerns   to  his  Difpofal,   and   humbly    acquiefce   in  his 
Difpenfations  when  they  are  dark  and  gloomy.    And 
amidft  all,  they    may  rejoice  in   the   Profpedl:    of   the 
heavenly  World,  which,  thro'  Grace,  they  are  the  Heirs 
cf,  where  all  God's  Dilprnfauons  will  be  kind  and  gra- 
cious, and  all  Evils  forever  unknown. 

God  grant  we  may  all  finally  arrive  there,  thro*  Jefus 
Chrift  our  Lord,  to  whom  be  Glory  forever  and  ever. 


AMEN, 


